RURAL landowners have called on the government to tackle the rural housing shortage as a matter of urgency.

The Country Land and Business Association said ministers should "unlock the potential" to tackle the acute housing shortage in rural areas.

The plea was outlined by the CLA in letters to communities secretary Sajid Javid and housing and planning minister Gavin Barwell.

It follows the Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Theresa May.

In the letters, the CLA outlines how landowners already contribute to the supply of homes in rural areas and how they could do more with changes to government policy.

CLA president Ross Murray said: "We face an acute national housing shortage but it is within rural areas that the shortage is felt most keenly.

"Rural homes cost 22% more than in urban areas and in English rural areas only 8% of homes are classed as affordable.

"This has a significant impact on the rural economy, as it forces young people to move away and stifles job creation, perpetuating low wages in rural areas.

Landowners already provided nearly 40% of all private rented housing in rural areas and were keen to build and manage their own affordable housing, said Mr Murray.

"There is significant potential across our rural areas to build new homes, usually in small quantities to meet the needs for incremental growth that our villages are crying out for.

"Only by unlocking this potential can we start to alleviate the lack of housing in our countryside."

Changes to planning policy could offer valuable economic benefits to small businesses, claims the CLA.

Those businesses are currently prevented from expanding or diversifying by the expensive and extensive planning application process, it argues.

Mr Murray said: "Increasing the supply of all tenures of housing, developing new business spaces and commercial opportunities reinvigorates rural communities and helps to build a stronger, more sustainable countryside."