England's rural local authorities have recorded stronger growth in housing stock than urban areas over the past decade, according to the latest Housing Statistics for Rural England published by Defra.

The figures show that the housing stock in predominantly rural authorities increased by 9.2% between 2013 and 2023, compared with 7.3% in predominantly urban authorities. The increase has been driven largely by new-build development, although the pace of growth has slowed in recent years as housing delivery has eased across England.

The report also highlights the continuing role of rural areas in new housing supply. In 2021/22, predominantly rural authorities recorded almost twice as many new residential addresses per head of population as predominantly urban authorities, reflecting the importance of smaller towns and villages in meeting housing demand.

Despite stronger housing growth, affordability remains a significant challenge. House prices in rural areas continue to outpace earnings, making home ownership difficult for many local residents. Defra said rural communities also tend to have older housing stock and lower levels of affordable housing than urban areas, adding to pressures on local housing markets.

The statistics underline the growing contribution rural authorities are making to national housing delivery while highlighting the need to balance development with affordability and the long-term sustainability of rural communities.