Updated 29.05.18

- Senior Conservative councillors urge Government to invest more in low-cost rented homes

- Welsh affordable housing review gets independent oversight

- Planning deregulation reduces local authorities' ability to secure affordable homes as homelessness rises

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Section: Affordable Housing

Senior Conservative councillors urge Government to invest more in low-cost rented homes

Posted 29.05.18
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF): Article link

A poll of 121 Conservative council leaders and housing leads from across the country shows finds serious concerns that current Government spending will not deliver enough low-cost housing in their area.

The JRF survey found that despite the Prime Minister's pledge of an additional £2 billion for affordable housing, 71% of councillors polled within her party remain concerned that this will not be enough to meet the needs of their constituents.

Furthermore, almost all the councillors surveyed (96%) argued that the Social Housing Green Paper (expected in June) must address the supply of low-cost rented homes as part of its comprehensive review of affordable housing in England.

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Welsh affordable housing review gets independent oversight

Posted 14.05.18
24Housing: Article link

An independent panel is to oversee the review of affordable housing supply in Wales.

Rebecca Evans, Welsh Assembly/ Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru minister for housing and regeneration said the panel, working under an independent chair, will examine the approach the review was taking and recommend changes as it sees fit.

Lynn Pamment, Cardiff office senior partner at PwC, will chair the panel. The other members are:

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Planning deregulation reduces local authorities ability to secure affordable homes as homelessness rises

Posted 10.05.18
Association for Public Service Excellence: Article link

A report published today by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) finds that a lack of investment in genuine affordable housing alongside deregulation of planning is reducing local authorities' ability to secure the homes the nation needs.

The research shines a stark spotlight on the desperate housing crisis experienced across the country, with 98% of councils identifying their need for affordable housing as either severe or moderate.

Over two thirds of councils in England state that statutory homelessness levels have increased in their local area in the past 12 months and 57% state that rough sleeping has also increased during this period.

To create more homes the government has deregulated planning by introducing measures to convert commercial buildings into homes through permitted development (this requires a prior approval process but removes the need for the developers to make a full planning application to the local authority).

While permitted development has created more housing units, the research reveals that this is not enabling councils to secure much needed affordable housing nor is it helping them deal with the rising tide of homelessness.


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Reporting on May 2018

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