• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    Changes to business rates

    Changes to business rates

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

  • Sport
    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    Changes to business rates

    Changes to business rates

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

  • Sport
    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Housing shortage hitting businesses and care staff

by Ellis Butcher
16 August 2023
in Latest, News, Property
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Growing numbers of hospitality workers, social care staff, nurses and agricultural workers are being “priced out” of rural areas of Cumbria, the National Housing Federation has warned. 

The chronic shortage of affordable homes in places such as Eden and South Lakeland is leading to higher vacancy rates in important sectors such as tourism, and health and social care services, new statistics have shown.

With workers unable to afford house prices close to their place of employment and rising rents, waiting lists for social housing in England are also coming under massive pressure with local authorities having few options when it comes to meeting the huge demand.

Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said the problem of “truly affordable social housing” was acute in rural areas, with families being driven apart and young people on low incomes unable to find anywhere to live.

“Rural communities, like anywhere else, need people who are able to contribute in different ways to ensure they can thrive. However, teachers, social care workers, nurses and workers in hospitality and agriculture are being priced out of the market, unable to afford a home close to their work. We need to make sure that people are able to live, work and bring up their children in a quality home they can afford.”

An “alarming” gap is growing between the number of people signing up for social housing and the amount of social housing actually being built. 

New figures show that the number of rural households on local authority waiting lists in England increased by 31 per cent between 2019 and 2022 — equivalent to 46,000 households. Yet in that time, just under 6,000 new homes for social rent were completed in rural areas across the country, figures from the National Housing Federation show.

Research by Cumbria Tourism with its members this year has shown that 86 per cent of businesses are short of staff.

A total of 73 per cent have said they are struggling with recruitment and 77 per cent say there is a lack of applicants. Vacancy rates in tourism in Cumbria are running at around 19 per cent and in the last year alone, 16 per cent of staff quit the sector, further compounding the loss of international staff from Brexit, the research found.

Yet there are nearly 7,000 people in Cumbria actively seeking work, but standing in their way from taking up employment are a lack of places to rent where the employer is based, the high costs of accommodation, a shortage of on-site staff accommodation and high transport costs making commutes unaffordable.

Furthermore, the poor frequency and connectivity of public transport, are combining to stop job seekers taking up roles, especially those positions which are low paid.

Our sister paper, The Keswick Reminder reported recently how employers such as Wetherspoons in the town have had to draft in staff from other parts of Cumbria and Merseyside because of the issues.

A total of 41 per cent of businesses in the tourism industry have told Cumbria Tourism that a lack of people has forced either a “temporary or partial” closure.

Related Posts

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth
Latest

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

30 May 2025
Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith
News

Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

30 May 2025
Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned
Food and Drink

Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

30 May 2025
Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism
Latest

Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

30 May 2025
Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters
Latest

Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

29 May 2025
£15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith
Latest

£15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

26 May 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

30 May 2025
Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

30 May 2025
Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

30 May 2025
Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

30 May 2025
Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

29 May 2025
Sheep showing season begins

Sheep showing season begins

30 May 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2020

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald