The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has set up a research group to examine the problems faced by key workers who are struggling to buy affordable housing in villages, towns and rural areas across the country.

The problems posed by overstretched affordability has largely been associated with urban areas, but RICS is concerned that the situation is at least as acute for those living rural communities. Figures released this week have shown fewer low cost homes are being built in rural areas in England than ever before, with only 463 have been completed so far in this financial year, compared with 2020 in 1997/98. This lack of supply can only serve to further accentuate the existing situation.

The RICS research project, "A Home in the Country?" will examine the cost and provision of housing in rural areas. It will aim to identify steps that government and housing providers can take to ensure service workers and people who want to remain living and working in rural communities are not priced out of the area. The results of the research will be available in the spring of 2002.

RICS President, Peter Faulkner, who is a rural chartered surveyor, said: "These figures clearly show that the building of affordable housing in rural areas has been sorely neglected. Key service workers in major towns and cities are receiving help to counter the high cost of housing, but government needs to realise that these problems are not confined to urban communities.

Our research will look at the costs of providing affordable housing in rural areas in relation to urban areas, and the implications of not providing housing that meet the needs of rural communities and business. Good affordable housing is an essential element in ensuring our rural communities remain vibrant and viable, and are not drained of key people and services."