The obstacles to affordable rural housing and how we might overcome them are key topics at today’s conference here at Ripon Cathedral.

Hosted by Dean John speakers include York and North Yorkshire Mayor, David Skaith, of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, who told delegates, ‘We are able to create a very talented young person… but they cannot stay and they cannot live in the place they call home.’ He added, ‘I think this is fundamentally wrong.’

Also in attendance the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Mrs Jo Ropner, representing His Majesty The King and Lord Richard Best OBE, who shared a national perspective on housing needs.

Dean John explained that the purpose of today is to move beyond recognising the challenge before us and to consider how it may be addressed in practice