Housing Vision Must Recognise Differing Aspirations

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has welcomed the Housing Minister Grant Shapps' call for responsible mortgage lending and borrowing and a move towards more sustainable home ownership.

However, CIH cautioned that there is a need for a balanced housing market with affordable options to buy or rent a home and that for a significant proportion of the population renting is an attractive long term housing option.


The Minister's plans to replace targets with incentives to build more homes have raised some concerns in the sector about their immediate impact but as a long term strategy could fundamentally change housing delivery and perceptions of new building.

CIH Director of Policy and Practice Richard Capie said: "We are pleased that the Minister wants to encourage local communities to support new building, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that his policy can be delivered on the ground."

(CD/GK)