GOOD looks are not good enough reason to save Kent’s decaying rural buildings, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

As BBC2’s Restoration Village continues its search for buildings to save, RICS says highlighting the decaying state of buildings is a worthy cause, but preservation is not the answer to rural problems.

Rural villages need functional buildings and workable infrastructure to create sustainable communities, says the 120,000-strong institution.

RICS South East Director Trevor Hines said: "The countryside is in danger of becoming a playground for rich commuters or weekenders who dip in and out of rural life and very often do not support rural amenities, adding to their neglect and decay.

"If communities are to flourish, direct action is needed to re-invigorate the soul of rural England. Preserving a folly or a local church is a worthwhile exercise but only if the building can be turned to some sort of functional use in the future.

"The Government must do more to develop sustainable communities by creating integrated transport infrastructure, improving employment opportunities and by building affordable housing."