Published Date:
05 February 2010
THE NUMBER of pensioners living in the Horsham district is set to soar by nearly 42 per cent to 33,200 by 2020, which will put severe pressure on the community unless more affordable homes are built, a lobby group has warned.
The National Housing Federation predicts the number of over 65s living in rural England will hit 3.23m by 2020, a rise of 907,900 (39 percent) from 2008. And Horsham is third on a list of areas in the south east expected to be affected worst.
Making matters worse, young people and families on modest incomes in rural communities could increasingly find themselves priced out of the town and surrounding villages, prompting fears that the district will struggle to attract the key workers needed to care for and support the ageing population.
More 'pensioner friendly homes' must also be built now, the Federation said, and support services would need to be made more widely available in rural communities.
Read the full report in the County Times.
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Last Updated:
05 February 2010 4:06 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Horsham
