Planning for the Needs of Young People in Rural Southern England

Abstract

Current trends in the United Kingdom point to an alarming out-migration of young people from rural areas, despite a more general increase in population in these areas. This pattern is associated with the growing lack of affordable housing in rural areas. Various UK policies seek to address this issue in integrated and participatory ways that include the concerns of the young. However, these policies often fail to address the full complexity of these concerns. Qualitative research with young people and other stakeholders in rural Southern England reveals broader challenges such as the poor employment prospects for rural young people, their absence in local planning processes, and increasing social marginalization within their own villages.