New powers to help keep homes affordable for communities in rural areas were set out today as Housing Minister Iain Wright launched two consultations.

Under the proposed new powers, rural communities with severe housing shortages could be designated as protected areas ensuring affordable housing is retained for local families.

The new proposals would also enable all affordable housing providers in these protected areas to retain a share in new shared ownership homes, or have the first option to buy back such properties, ensuring they remain available for future families in the local community.

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In a further step announced, first-time buyers in rural areas could own a home for as little as £60,000 through a consultation to expand Community Land Trusts. Mr Wright said he wants to see more people being able to cut the cost of getting on the housing ladder through CLTs. Through CLTs, buyers only pay for the building, not the land, of a property. For example, Holdsworthy Community Property Trust in Devon is already offering local people flats that cost £115,000 for prices as low as £59,500.

He said: "In rural areas where affordable housing is scarce and hard to replace, we need to make sure those homes are protected for future generations. We're unveiling new proposals on community land trusts and preserving affordable housing which will help achieve that goal.

"We're providing all the tools so local communities can find a solution that's right for them."

(CD/JM)