UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
11/07/2008
NHF Rejects Lib Dem Housing Plan
.gif)
The National Housing Federation (NHF) has rejected proposals by the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman, Vince Cable, to shore up the construction industry, which would see housing associations buying up 150,000 unsaleable properties from private developers.
The scheme would lead to a 100-fold increase in the number of homes bought by housing associations from developers, regardless of whether the homes meet the high space and environmental standards of social housing.
The Federation says that while there is scope to raise the number of properties that associations are buying from developers, the increase proposed by Vince Cable would flood the social housing sector with substandard homes, and could put many associations out of business.
Mr Cable's proposals echo the housing market rescue scheme run by the Conservative government in the early 1990s, when there was little difference in build quality between private developer and housing association homes. But associations now meet significantly higher environmental standards than those required of private developers - with association homes producing 25% fewer carbon emissions than their private sector counterparts. Housing associations also build to much higher space standards to combat overcrowding.
In proposals submitted to government last month, the Federation said that housing associations should be supported to buy more homes from private developers, but only if they are of sufficient quality for social housing.
Otherwise, they should be allowed to use government grant and their own resources to buy up uncompleted developments, and land that developers are unable to build on.
Ruth Davison, Director of campaigns and neighbourhoods at the NHF, said: "Housing associations are already buying up unsaleable properties from private developers, and there is certainly scope for them to buy more. But it is hard to see how they would achieve the 100 fold increase proposed by Vince Cable. It would flood the social housing sector with unsuitable homes, as private developers typically build to lower standards than housing associations.
"Developers are having real difficulty selling the glut of shoebox flats which are currently on the market. They aren't spacious enough for the families that are on waiting lists for affordable housing - and if housing associations are compelled to buy them, they will become the slums of tomorrow.
"It is also difficult to see how Vince Cable's proposals would be funded, as 60% of the cost would have to come from associations themselves."
(CD/JM)
The scheme would lead to a 100-fold increase in the number of homes bought by housing associations from developers, regardless of whether the homes meet the high space and environmental standards of social housing.
The Federation says that while there is scope to raise the number of properties that associations are buying from developers, the increase proposed by Vince Cable would flood the social housing sector with substandard homes, and could put many associations out of business.
Mr Cable's proposals echo the housing market rescue scheme run by the Conservative government in the early 1990s, when there was little difference in build quality between private developer and housing association homes. But associations now meet significantly higher environmental standards than those required of private developers - with association homes producing 25% fewer carbon emissions than their private sector counterparts. Housing associations also build to much higher space standards to combat overcrowding.
-- Advertisement --
In proposals submitted to government last month, the Federation said that housing associations should be supported to buy more homes from private developers, but only if they are of sufficient quality for social housing.
Otherwise, they should be allowed to use government grant and their own resources to buy up uncompleted developments, and land that developers are unable to build on.
Ruth Davison, Director of campaigns and neighbourhoods at the NHF, said: "Housing associations are already buying up unsaleable properties from private developers, and there is certainly scope for them to buy more. But it is hard to see how they would achieve the 100 fold increase proposed by Vince Cable. It would flood the social housing sector with unsuitable homes, as private developers typically build to lower standards than housing associations.
"Developers are having real difficulty selling the glut of shoebox flats which are currently on the market. They aren't spacious enough for the families that are on waiting lists for affordable housing - and if housing associations are compelled to buy them, they will become the slums of tomorrow.
"It is also difficult to see how Vince Cable's proposals would be funded, as 60% of the cost would have to come from associations themselves."
(CD/JM)
Latest Construction News
17/01/2025
Leeds Trinity University has officially opened its newly refurbished City Campus at 1 Trevelyan Square in Leeds.
Completed by GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out, the transformation of the central Leeds site introduces state-of-the-art facilities designed to improve learning and collaborate with industry partn
17/01/2025
Trammell Crow Company (TCC) has secured planning permission for a Grade A logistics scheme in Heywood, Greater Manchester, following a successful planning appeal.
The development will feature two state-of-the-art industrial and logistics buildings. One building will house two units measuring 4,796
17/01/2025
Poole-based developer AJC Group has celebrated a record-breaking 2024, delivering 100 affordable homes, a significant increase from the 72 units completed in the previous year.
Since 2023, AJC Group has completed and handed over 172 affordable homes across five sites.
In 2024 alone, the developer
17/01/2025
Plans for one of the most ambitious parks projects in London have taken a significant step forward, with Haringey Council securing nearly two additional acres of land around The Paddock nature reserve in Tottenham Hale.
The agreement with Thames Water marks a major milestone in the transformation o
17/01/2025
Islington Council has unveiled two draft guidance documents aimed at helping residents, businesses, and developers combat climate change by making buildings more energy efficient and fostering a greener, healthier borough.
The consultation seeks feedback on the draft Climate Action Supplementary Pl
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has unveiled a £98 million investment plan over the next five years to develop around 500 new homes across the city.
The proposal, part of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, received Cabinet approval this week and now moves to Full Council for final
17/01/2025
Croydon Council has announced a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the Purley Pool site, with revised proposals submitted for a new leisure centre, later living housing, and the regeneration of the surrounding area.
A planning application for the site was initially submitted in 2024, pro
17/01/2025
The City of Wolverhampton Council has announced that demolition work has commenced on the New Park Village estate, marking the start of a major £40 million redevelopment project to transform outdated council housing.
Contractor DSM Demolition has begun pulling down poor-quality bungalows on Valley
17/01/2025
Hillingdon Council has acquired 12 new homes at Carpenters Court in Uxbridge.
Leader of Hillingdon Council, Cllr Ian Edwards and Cllr Steve Tuckwell, Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Growth, visited the site to officially mark the handover of the properties from local developer Kearns Devel
17/01/2025
Organisers of UK Construction Week (UKCW) have announced another major coup for the show's 10th anniversary year, with the news that UKCW London will be co-locating with the 14th edition of The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, the principal industry event for surface design.
Established 26 years ago, th
