Posted 09.03.17
City of York Council: Article link
City of York Council is set to enter into a partnership with the government which could help deliver 5,000 much needed new homes on brownfield land over the next 15 years.
The new partnership will be one of the first of its kind in the region and would see both the Council and Homes and Communities Agency signing up to a formal agreement called a Memorandum of Understanding.
This could look into how to increase the delivery of a mix of homes to buy, rent privately, shared ownership and affordable housing.
It could also kick-start builds on stalled sites, help to retain graduates in the City and explore alternative construction methods to speed up developments.
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Posted 07.03.17
Local Government Association: Article link
Analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA) reveals that chronic shortage of affordable housing is forcing cash-strapped councils to spend more than £2 million a day on temporary accommodation for homeless families.
The number of affordable homes built in 2015/16 fell by 52% and was the lowest number in 24 years. Just 6,554 social rented homes were built in the same year.
The LGA, which represents more than 350 councils in England and Wales, is calling on Government to use the Spring Budget to free councils from borrowing limits hampering their ability to build new homes, and to adapt welfare reforms to protect families at risk of homelessness.