The Telegraph reports that would-be home buyers in rural areas are now paying nine times their average annual wages.

The average house in England’s county areas now costs around £100,000 more than in urban areas outside of London, according to research by the County Councils Network. The five least affordable areas were all in south east England.

Leaders of county councils are calling on the Government to address the lack of affordability in rural areas of England.  Philip Atkins, County Councils Network spokesman for housing, planning, and infrastructure, said: ‘We have long been concerned that house prices in county areas are becoming increasingly unaffordable, with millions of young people locked out of home ownership and the situation rapidly worsening.’

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→ The Telegraph - Priced out: rural areas hit by house price affordability crisis