The English Countryside: A Home for the Wealthy - Book Report/Review Example

The English Countryside: A Home for the Wealthy By Devangini Mahapatra Chauhan Being close to nature is every urban dweller's dream. Finding a homeaway from the humdrum of everyday life and living in the vicinity of nature and the wonderful gifts that nature has to offer is something that every individual dreams of enjoying someday. The English countryside is replete with the most amazing vegetation as well as wildlife and other such features. It has been commonly believed that to own a home in the English countryside implies being a part of the jet set with great wealth at one's disposal. According to the 'State of the Countryside Report' by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC), this is not a reality any longer. This paper will examine the elements involved in living in the English countryside with all its splendour and quietude. This report is one of the most important ones that will be used in the course of this paper as it start out with important definitions of rural and urban living as well as comparison of the same. This paper will basically be a literature review of the various categories of study for the paper that will analyse the affordability of the life in the English countryside. Through the use of the literature produced by journals, authorities as well as various authors, one will find a glimpse into the various elements of the life in the English countryside. There will be a categorisation of the concepts and ideas that revolve around this theme so as to picture each of the elements separately. Affordability The area of affordability is one that has a strong nexus with the supply and demand mechanisms that operate in the English country market. This has been discussed by various authors and planners in context of the pricing and supply factors. An important report in this area is the Final Report by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission, which was set up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in July 2005. This commission has set forth important definitions of the affordability in the non market housing in rural areas. This has been done with a focus on sustainable development and how the same affects the marketability and subsequent affordability of the housing and land needs in these areas. (ARHC, 2005) This report's focus is on the definition and discussion of key areas and trends that show evidence of acute shortage of land at a regional and local level. The recommendations laid down by this report are realistic and cater to the requirements for future planning through a focus on sustainable development and the affordability angle in the rural areas. The CRC report for 2006, talks of how the affordability has increased with the plunging of prices in the English countryside. This report shows how a home in the English countryside may not be a dream of the distant future for most. Based on this report, it will be easy to carry out a survey of the various factors that dictate the affordability. The various factors that have been discussed by the CRC report are generalisations in terms of the life and quality of life in the English countryside. To begin with, there is a strong connection between affordability as well as the cost of basic amenities in any area where a person wants to set up home. It has been recognised that these factors play a role as important as the price of the land or the home. The CRC report discusses various factors in terms of affordability like the rural housing as well as services and transport factors. It also discusses the economic health through a focus on the business and scope for the same in the English countryside. Through a discussion of these factors, it has been demonstrated that there is ample scope for people to relocate to this area and actually make a living to support any kind of lifestyle that they want depending on the class they hail from. (CRC, 2006) Table 1: Affordability of rural housing by area and settlement type. Area/ Settlement Type (output areas) by settlement size sparsity of population Mean House Price, 2004 Median Household Income, 2004 Ratio of Mean House price to Median Household Income 2004 Town & Fringe, Less Sparse 180,986 27,169 4.5 Urban Settlement of >10k, Sparse 141,072 21,093 4.5 Urban Settlement of >10k, Less Sparse 175,662 25,919 4.6 Town & Fringe, Sparse 168,969 21,898 5.2 Village, Sparse 211,865 24,729 5.8 Village, Less Sparse 262,100 30,512 5.8 Hamlet & Isolated Dwelling, Sparse 254,070 25,349 6.8 Hamlet & Isolated Dwelling, Less Sparse 327,015 32,097 6.9 Source: CRC (2005). Table 2: Tenure of rural housing by area and settlement type, 2001. Sparsity Settlement type Owned % Social rented % Private rented% Less sparse Urban settlements of >10k 67 21 10 Town and Fringe 77 15 7 Village 78 10 9 Hamlet & Isolated Dwelling 78 5 13 Sparse Urban settlements of >10k 70 16 12 Town & Fringe 68 18 12 Village 73 11 13 Hamlet & Isolated Dwelling 71 5 19 Source CRC (2005) These tables reflect the affordability patterns for a variety of dwelling types and settlement areas. This will help compare the affordability in terms of the factors of demand and supply. In this case, the work by M Satsangi and K Dunmore for the Housing Studies titled The Planning System and the provision of Affordable Housing in Rural Britain: A Comparison of the Scottish and English experience, is a study of the comparison of the British and the Scottish experience which is a common element when speaking of the English countryside and the experience that it offers in terms of the way of living and the amenities provided. This work speaks of the affordability disparities in both experiences as the Scottish experience of the countryside living is more a way of life as compared to the British experience of country living which is more akin to a statement of luxury. (Satsangi et al, 2003) Another important report in the affordability and housing policies is that of the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, titled Annual Review 2005/2006, which demonstrates the revenue generation patterns and how the same affects the planning process. (Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, 2006) In this regard, N Gallent's article titled The Alternative route to affordable housing provision, for the Journal of rural studies, is another important piece of work for studying the affordability factor of the land acquisition patterns in the English countryside. Also, the Final Report of the Affordable Rural Housing Commision, (http://www.defra.gov.org) for 2006, is an important document that shows the affordability factors and changes in the same for the English countryside. Further the Countryside Agency's 2003 North East Briefing Note titled Planning for Affordable Housing in Rural Area demonstrates the planning considerations that have a strong influence on the affordability factor in the English countryside and other rural areas of Britain. Demand and Supply Demand and supply are the market mechanisms that dictate the mobility of a commodity in terms of its market value and presence. Affordability has a direct bearing on the supply and demand of the land and homes in the English countryside. This notion has been substantiated by S Farthing and K Ashley in their work titled Negotiations and the Delivery of Affordable housing through the English Planning System for the Planning Practise and Research. This report shows the nuances and elements that dictate the land supply and demand mechanisms in the English countryside. (Farthing et al, 2002) In this regard, it has been demonstrated that affordability and planning are major factors that influence the supply and demand patterns in the English countryside. This has been shown in the report by N Gallent and P Bell titled Planning expectations in rural England: Past present and future, for planning practice and research. This report shows the planning considerations that boost the affordability of land in the English countryside. In this regard, the CRC report has important notes on the supply and demand factors through a study of the sustainability as well as change and other living criteria like community strength and safety, which will further enhance the supply and demand through an increase in the affordability of land and homes in the English countryside. (CRC, 2006) The ARHC report also shows that there is a shortage of land which has been affected by various trends in the housing markets thus forcing the prices to skyrocket. With the bulk ownership trends, it is difficult to cater to more people as most of the owners in these areas are looking at exclusivity and a certain kind of lifestyle. This in turn, has had a negative effect on affordability. Policy Considerations Policy considerations revolve around the various factors that cater to the various affordability angles. According to the CPRE's 2004 report titled Housing the nation, Meeting the needs for affordable housing - facts, myths, solutions, affordability is a ratio between public policy and availability of land. The public policy purports into areas like that of sustainable development as well as regeneration plans. This view has been supported in the article titled Ghost Town, published in the Guardian. This article also traces the context of affordability in terms of a study of the new housing policies and emerging trends as far as housing development and population growth are concerned. Further, these policy considerations have a strong bearing on the prices as well as the market for this area as far as housing is concerned. This has been demonstrated by the ODPM in their documents titled Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering sustainable development as well as the Planning Policy Guidance 3 Housing Update, Planning for sustainable communities in rural areas. These documents show the policies that affect the affordability as well as the planning criteria that go into measuring and setting a price on homes in these areas. Also, along with these documents, the article by B Pearce titled, Affordable housing through the planning system - does it make housing more or less affordable, shows that there are major trends in planning as far as a degree of homogeneity is concerned in 'productionist' policies developed and propagated by the Government, are concerned. This caters to the agricultural and woodland way of life that exists in these areas. It also shows a nexus between planning and the sustainable development theories as well as the trends in globalisation like basic living and social criteria that guide the affordability in these areas. Spending Patterns Affordability greatly depends on the means and willingness to spend. These areas enjoy continued patronage of the upper strata in terms of their willingness to pay for a certain quality of life in the various places where they have homes. Thus, the spending patterns of people in general have to complement the idea of affordability and how people conceive the same. This has been demonstrated by CRC report titled 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, which discusses the spending patterns of various groups of individuals and service providers in terms of the strategic objectives. These objectives help a majority of people determine their priorities in terms of acquiring expensive homes and land. This is also a parameter for studying the affordability of homes in the rural areas. Financial Aspects Sustainable development is a trend that goes side by side with lifestyle statements and issues. This has been demonstrated by the Countryside Agency in their 2002 report titled Second Homes in Rural Areas of England, which traces the ongoing trend of people from the upper strata demanding a weekend or holiday home in the rural areas as they can afford the luxury of getting away from the city as and when they please. As will be demonstrated by the Review of Housing Supply, by K Barker, this has a strong connection with the need for financing a suitable environment which this class demands when it buys a home in these places. According to the ARHC report, there is a need for enhanced subsidies so as to cater to a certain level of development in these areas, which further increases the price of acquiring land and homes around here. In this regard, the National Audit Office's 2005 report titled Building more affordable homes: Improving the delivery of affordable housing in areas of high demand, there is a demand for a method of cross subsidy which will enable the Government's funds to be diverted to these areas and some amount of relaxation in the taxes and other payments made by the people living here. There is a need to ensure that this becomes a part and parcel of the new planning guidelines in the sense that the financial implications of meeting sustainable development will be catered for. This in turn implies that the affordability will keep increasing. In this regard, there are various factors that contribute to this assessment of affordability, as follows: Basic Environment According to the book by Victor Bonham Carter titled Land and Environment - The Survival of the English Countryside, there is a cause of despair regarding the environment in the English countryside. The author has spoken of how the land is now becoming a commodity of short supply through the misuse and cramming of homes, by showing that there is now a business angle to the selling of land and homes in this area. This book gives a comprehensive view of all that is good in the English countryside and how it must be preserved. In this regard, another book that focuses on the quality of the environment as well as the depreciation of the same through overuse of land is the one by M Shucksmith titled Exclusive Countryside Social inclusion and regeneration in rural Britain. Among the various issues that this book focuses on, the issue of environmental regeneration is the most important one in terms of the volume of depreciation every year and how the same can be curbed and handled. This book has a number of interesting notes on the social inclusive policy followed as well. (Shucksmith, 2000) The report by P Williams in 1991 for the Department of the Environment Planning Research Programme has also been hailed as a breakthrough of sorts for the findings that it has laid down regarding the environmental degradation and the planning and research programmes that may be followed. (Williams, 1991) In this regard, the State of the Countryside report by the Commission for Rural Communities is a work to reckon with due to the fact that it is a factual piece of work that is crammed with details and deep analysis of the issues from various angles. The work demonstrated in this report may be used for further reference as well as for benchmarks in the evaluation process where developmental tools are made use of. (CRC, 2006) Social Patterns The English countryside has been symbolic of a variety of trends by the people who clamour to these places. These trends, in turn have come to dominate the way of life in this area. This way of life can be enjoyed basically by those who can afford it. Therefore, it is also necessary to study the pattern of social inclusion that underlines the supply and demand criteria as well as the pricing factors in the English countryside. To begin with, the work by D Clark, in the survey for the Rural Social Housing Society titled Rural Social Housing, Supply and Trends, demonstrates the categorisation of the social strata in terms of affordability, which in turn have an influence on the trends of demand and supply followed in the English countryside. In this regard, the socially inclusive criteria has been defined by the author to demonstrate the market mechanisms that further dictate the land ownership norms in terms of the prices as well as demand and supply. Further, the statistical study by Glen Bramley for the Rural Development Commission titled Homelessness in Rural Britain- Statistical Update is an important piece of work as it shows the parameters that support the actual measurement of the social inclusive policy that exists in the English countryside in terms of the evaluation of homelessness in rural areas. (Bramley, 1994) Also, the 2000 report by the Department of the Environment Transport & the Regions (DETR) titled Planning Policy Guidance Note 3, lays down various important guidelines that go into the environmental planning in the English countryside. (DETR, 2000). These guidelines are meant to be studied and implemented for housing and other development activities in the area. The book by M Shucksmith titled Exclusive Countryside Social inclusion and regeneration in rural Britain, is also filled with details regarding the brand of exclusivity that has been a vital part of the branding and marketing strategy of the English countryside and its illustrious dwellers in terms of preserving exclusivity. This has a strong nexus with their lifestyles and personalities in general. (Shucksmith, 2000) Conclusion: The choice of literature in this review has been dominated by the categorisation of the themes and elements that dictate the affordability as well as the demand and supply mechanisms that will further enhance the quality of the environment and living in these areas, through a focus on activities other than agriculture. Thus, it has been found that the conception of affordability in these areas depends on policies as well as spending patterns. References: Carter, Victor - Bonham (1973) Land and Environment: the survival of the English Countryside. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press Affordable Rural Housing Commision (2006). Final Report [online] Available from http://www.defra.gov.org - included in the uploaded items. Bramley, Glen (1994) Homelessness in Rural Britain- Statistical Update. Rural Development Commission Clark, D. (1992) Rural Social Housing, Supply and Trends. A Survery. Rural Social Housing (Cirencester) Commission For Rural Communities. (2006) [online] Available from http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk. Countryside Agency. (2003) North East Briefing Note. Planning for Affordable Housing in Rural Area. CA, Newcastle upon Tyne. DETR (2000). Planning Policy Guidance Note 3. Department of the Environment Transport & the Regions, The Secretary Office, London. Farthing, S & Ashley, K (2002) Negotiations and the Delivery of Affordable housing through the English Planning System. Planning Practise and Research, Vol 17, No 1 pp 45-58. Gallent, N. (1997) The Alternative route to Affordable Housing Provision: Experiences in Rural Wales. Journal of Rural Studies, Vol. 13, No 1, pp. 43-56. Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2006) [online] Available from http://www.jrf.org.uk/. Morgan, (2003) - A critical Appraisal of the UK Government's "Third Way" agenda as espoused in its policies on affordable rural housing provision. Milbourne, P. (1998) Local Responses to Central State Restructuring of Social Housing Provision in Rural Areas. Journal of Rural Studies. Vol 14, No 2 pp 167-184. Satsangi, M & Dunmore, K (2003) The Planning System and the provision of Affordable Housing in Rural Britain: A Comparison of the Scottish and English experience. Housing Studies. Vol 18, No 2, pp. 201-217. Williams, P (1991) Department of the Environment Planning Research Programme. Gallent N (1997) The Alternative route to affordable housing provision, Journal of rural studies, 13, 1 (pp 43 - 56) Gallent N & Bell P (200) Planning expectations in rural England: Past present and future. Planning practice and research, 15, 4 (pp 375 - 384) The Guardian (2006) Ghost Towns From: http://society.guardian.co.uk/communities/story/0,,1725512,00.html Shucksmith M (2000) Exclusive Countryside Social inclusion and regeneration in rural Britain. Joseph Rowntree Foundation, York Barker K (2004) Review of Housing Supply, Final Report - Recommendations, HMSO, London CPRE (2004) Housing the nation, Meeting the needs for affordable housing - facts, myths, solutions. London. ISBN 1 902786 73 4 Countryside Agency (2002) Second Homes in Rural Areas of England [online]. Available from http://www.countryside.gov.uk National Audit Office (2005) Building more affordable homes: Improving the delivery of affordable housing in areas of high demand. National Audit Office, London. From: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/05-06/0506459.pdf ODPM (2005a) Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering sustainable development. The Stationary Office, London. ODPM (2005b) Planning Policy Guidance 3 Housing Update, Planning for sustainable communities in rural areas. ODPM Publications, Wetherby. Pearce, B. (2004) Affordable housing through the planning system - does it make housing more or less affordable, Town and Country Planning, 74(4): 132-137. Comprehensive Spending Review: Commission for Rural Communities Submission. (2007). Commission for Rural Communities. Read More