04/11/2022 - Rural housing, Welsh house prices, Regenerative agriculture

The Government says it's £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme is delivering more affordable, quality homes for communities - but is the money reaching rural areas? 189,000 affordable homes have been delivered by the programme since 2015, but a report from the National Audit Office from the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities 'is at high risk of not meeting a sub-target for rural homes'. We hear from a planning expert who says change is needed. In many places, the rise in the number of houses used as holiday lets or holiday homes can be a real problem for local people looking for somewhere to live. In West Wales, the difficulties young people are having getting on the property ladder or finding a place to rent are also having a knock on effect on farmers, who are struggling with recruiting staff. And could regenerative agriculture reduce the carbon footprint of farming, as well as making it more profitable? We visit a regenerative farm on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border where Jake Freestone says his approach has also lead to increased biodiversity. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons