Counter-urbanisation is when people begin to move from the city to rural environments.
This occurs when the push factors are greater than the pull factors in the city.
Push factors in the city could include poor housing quality, high cost of living, and pollution, among others.
Quality of life can be better in rural areas.

This causes an increase in house prices in rural towns, pushing away local business.
Counter-urbanisation can cause large supermarkets to be brought to rural areas due to the higher population density. This has an effect on the landscape.
Public transport goes into decline because the new residents are car owners. This can be a major problem for village residents without their own transport, particularly the elderly.
Traffic congestion increases with the increase of cars driving to work in the city.
Inner city areas that were once densely populated can fall into decline.

Linking Rural and Urban Landscapes