Help for local house buyers in rural areas

Central Beds Council is pushing a 100 per cent affordable rural exception scheme to help people living in rural communities find future housing

Councillor Ken Matthews, member for economic development, said: “There has been an exodus of local people from rural communities up and down the country because of eye- watering levels of house prices.”

“In Central Bedfordshire we are determined to keep our villages and hamlets stable and help local people live locally.”

The council seeks to aid development in rural locations, where housing is needed for local residents.

The policy is part of the council’s Housing Strategy, which was passed on January 19.