MPs accuse government of wasting ‘unique opportunity’ to ease UK’s housing shortage
5 years, 8 months ago

MPs accuse government of wasting ‘unique opportunity’ to ease UK’s housing shortage

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government has “a unique opportunity” to alleviate Britain’s housing crisis by selling off surplus public land, but it has been squandered due to a lack of proper controls on what the land is then used for and other failures, according to MPs. Moreover, there are “tensions” within the twin land disposal targets: for example, under the 2015-2020 programme, the government plans to secure £5bn through the sale of public land and property on the one hand, and to release enough land for at least 160,000 new homes in England on the other. The government’s definition of a home under its current programme includes a new affordable home without specifying what that means; a new, more expensive “market home”; a care home; and new accommodation for essential local workers such as health service and prison staff – in addition to other types of housing. They added: “We are concerned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s failure to translate surplus land into new homes and are struggling to see how this could improve in the coming years.”

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History of this topic

Rayner’s housing plan at risk as construction sector warns UK does not have workers to build 1.5m homes
1 month, 1 week ago

Rayner’s housing plan at risk as construction sector warns UK does not have workers to build 1.5m homes

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour’s plan to tackle the housing crisis is unachievable, the construction …

Starmer to unveil plan for new towns in England inspired by King Charles
1 month, 1 week ago

Starmer to unveil plan for new towns in England inspired by King Charles

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Keir Starmer and King Charles look at a development in the …

Minister ‘absolutely’ confident Government will meet 1.5 million homes pledge
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Minister ‘absolutely’ confident Government will meet 1.5 million homes pledge

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A minister has said he is “absolutely” confident that the …

It’s time we gave up on Thatcher’s home-owning dream
3 months, 1 week ago

It’s time we gave up on Thatcher’s home-owning dream

The Independent  

I believe that the current housing crisis can be traced back to Margaret Thatcher selling off council housing at a considerable discount. Until Thatcher, it was an aspiration to own one’s home, but many were satisfied with renting well-designed council houses at a reasonable rent. Tim Sidaway Hertfordshire Build anywhere but the green belt About the housing crisis, Chris Packham …

Watch live: Labour outlines housing shakeup as 1.5m new homes to be built in next five years
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Watch live: Labour outlines housing shakeup as 1.5m new homes to be built in next five years

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Watch live as Labour outlines its shake-up of planning rules that …

Inflated farmland prices blocking government from building enough homes
4 months ago

Inflated farmland prices blocking government from building enough homes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Inflated prices for land are …

‘Time for half-measures has passed’ say housing leaders amid record homelessness
7 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Time for half-measures has passed’ say housing leaders amid record homelessness

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But to do that, the Government should “create a substantial capital fund to enable …

‘Moral obligation’ to build more homes, Angela Rayner tells council chiefs
7 months, 3 weeks ago

‘Moral obligation’ to build more homes, Angela Rayner tells council chiefs

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I know that, like every member of Government, you will feel not just a …

Rayner unveils overhaul of planning system in drive for 1.5 million homes
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Rayner unveils overhaul of planning system in drive for 1.5 million homes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Angela Rayner has announced an …

Councils call for long-term funding to build 200,000 social homes
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Councils call for long-term funding to build 200,000 social homes

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Councils should be given five-year pots of funding by central …

Newly elected Labour MP opposes plans for new homes in her own constituency despite party's pledge to build tens of thousands of new properties
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Newly elected Labour MP opposes plans for new homes in her own constituency despite party's pledge to build tens of thousands of new properties

Daily Mail  

A newly elected Labour MP spent her first day opposing a housing development despite the Government's vow to build more homes. Sarah Coombes announced she was taking a break from Parliament to speak at a planning appeal on behalf of residents who are trying to stop fewer than 200 houses and a country park being built on farmland in the …

Squatters take London’s housing crisis into their own hands
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Squatters take London’s housing crisis into their own hands

Al Jazeera  

In the shopping streets and housing estates of the South London town of Croydon, some once-derelict buildings are slowly coming back to life. The Reclaim Croydon collective, a squatters group, has taken over disused commercial premises to provide beds for the homeless, saying it is providing a community-based solution to a broken housing market. Britain has long lacked enough housing, …

UK’s housing stock ‘offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy’
1 year ago

UK’s housing stock ‘offers the worst value for money of any advanced economy’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK’s “expensive, cramped and ageing” housing stock fares poorly …

UK homes have worst value for money in developed world: Study
1 year ago

UK homes have worst value for money in developed world: Study

New Indian Express  

LONDON: Britain's housing stock offers the poorest value for money among advanced nations, according to a study published Monday warning that the crisis-hit sector will loom large over this year's election. Homes in Britain have less floorspace per person than many other developed economies, trailing France, Germany, Japan, the United States and Taiwan. The think-tank found that homes were located …

Why Britain’s housebuilding slump is about to get much worse
1 year ago

Why Britain’s housebuilding slump is about to get much worse

The Telegraph  

A damning report into the health of Britain’s housebuilding sector pulled no punches on Monday, as the competition watchdog raised concerns over decades of failure. The list of criticisms directed towards developers was wide-ranging, as the Competition and Markets Authority attacked shoddily built properties, excessive fees and inescapable management schemes. In an unusual move, the CMA called for “fundamental interventions …

Government’s new homes target must rise to hit international benchmark
1 year, 5 months ago

Government’s new homes target must rise to hit international benchmark

The Telegraph  

New homes must be built in even greater numbers than the current target of 300,000 per year if England is to catch up with comparable countries, ministers have been warned. The Government is currently falling short of its own target by around 80,000 new dwellings per year, but if it wants to catch up with the availability of homes in …

Revealed: Britain’s council housing shame as majority of councils fail to build a single home
1 year, 8 months ago

Revealed: Britain’s council housing shame as majority of councils fail to build a single home

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. She added: “There is no solution to the housing crisis that does not involve …

Sunak confirms bulk of Britain’s new homes will not ‘concrete over the countryside’ as Gove announces reforms
1 year, 8 months ago

Sunak confirms bulk of Britain’s new homes will not ‘concrete over the countryside’ as Gove announces reforms

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Prime Minister said the bulk of Britain’s new homes …

Gove to announce plans to make home extensions and loft conversions easier
1 year, 8 months ago

Gove to announce plans to make home extensions and loft conversions easier

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. New flexibilities will be introduced to allow shops, takeaways and betting shops to be …

Tory voters think Government should prioritise social housing, polling suggests
1 year, 9 months ago

Tory voters think Government should prioritise social housing, polling suggests

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. There is a clear consensus amongst voters from all parties and people across all …

Britain needs to build an extra 250,000 houses just for migrants, say analysts
1 year, 10 months ago

Britain needs to build an extra 250,000 houses just for migrants, say analysts

The Telegraph  

Britain needs to build an extra 250,000 homes just to accommodate the record number of migrants who arrived last year, City analysts have warned. Investec said the chronic undersupply of homes in the UK would be worsened by the arrival of 606,000 migrants in 2022, adding to demand and pushing up rents and house prices. Assuming an average household size …

Changes needed to make housing system fairer in longer term, charity says
2 years, 1 month ago

Changes needed to make housing system fairer in longer term, charity says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Its report said: “Property ownership in some places – especially very high demand and …

Sunak warned Tories face existential threat over housebuilding failures
2 years, 4 months ago

Sunak warned Tories face existential threat over housebuilding failures

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt acknowledged the difficulties faced by people trying to buy their first …

Homeless ‘trapped’ in situation by ‘crippling’ shortage of affordable homes
2 years, 9 months ago

Homeless ‘trapped’ in situation by ‘crippling’ shortage of affordable homes

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s shocking that councils are being forced to leave people living in dingy B&Bs …

Falling home ownership cost Tories votes, says Michael Gove
2 years, 10 months ago

Falling home ownership cost Tories votes, says Michael Gove

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The other one is that the Labour Party doesn’t seem to have made anything like …

Housing crisis cost us votes, says Michael Gove
2 years, 10 months ago

Housing crisis cost us votes, says Michael Gove

The Telegraph  

Many voters who turned against the Conservatives this week were punishing the party for falling rates of home ownership, Michael Gove has warned. In an interview with The Telegraph, the Housing Secretary said that his first lesson from the local election results was: “We’ve got to do more on home ownership.” He warned that the Tories “have a problem” because …

We’ve failed to build enough housing, admits Michael Gove
2 years, 11 months ago

We’ve failed to build enough housing, admits Michael Gove

The Independent  

Cabinet minister Michael Gove has admitted that the government has “failed” to make sure Britain has enough affordable housing. The housing secretary said even the most “Thatcher-worshipping” people want more social housing, as he acknowledged there is an “urgent” need for action. “It’s a cause of concern for me as a Conservative because I believe that the aspiration to own …

Manchester to build first new council homes for almost four decades in bid to tackle growing housing crisis
3 years, 6 months ago

Manchester to build first new council homes for almost four decades in bid to tackle growing housing crisis

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Manchester City Council is to build its first new council …

Housing ‘emergency’ threatens one in three adults in UK, charity warns
3 years, 10 months ago

Housing ‘emergency’ threatens one in three adults in UK, charity warns

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain’s housing “emergency” threatens one in three adults, according to …

Force developers to include social housing in new projects, Victorian homelessness inquiry urges
4 years ago

Force developers to include social housing in new projects, Victorian homelessness inquiry urges

ABC  

Major new housing developments should be forced to include social or affordable housing in a bid to combat Victoria's homelessness crisis, a parliamentary inquiry has recommended. Key points: The multi-party committee report calls for mandatory inclusionary zoning for new developments It says even after a $5.3 billion public housing spend, the state will still fall behind the rest of the …

Tory MPs call for social housing boost in spending review
4 years, 4 months ago

Tory MPs call for social housing boost in spending review

The Telegraph  

A group of Conservative MPs have called for a further spending boost for social housing to help lift the economy. They are seeking a replacement of existing social housing plans with a more ambitious scheme for the next two years. The letter highlights the need for better social housing provision across the country, including in many of the "red wall" …

Planning rules aren’t just ‘red tape’ – they’re essential for building affordable homes people actually want to live in
4 years, 7 months ago

Planning rules aren’t just ‘red tape’ – they’re essential for building affordable homes people actually want to live in

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It will mean fewer social and …

Almost 200,000 council homes lost in decade since Tories came to power
5 years, 2 months ago

Almost 200,000 council homes lost in decade since Tories came to power

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Almost 200,000 council homes have been lost since the Tories came …

Millions left unspent on NHS as councils fail to cash in on money from housing developers
5 years, 2 months ago

Millions left unspent on NHS as councils fail to cash in on money from housing developers

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The failure to secure funding from developers was revealed by the right-wing think tank Reform, …

Brexit brings uncertainty for everyone, particularly the 18,000 people in my borough waiting for housing
5 years, 3 months ago

Brexit brings uncertainty for everyone, particularly the 18,000 people in my borough waiting for housing

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Right to Buy was one of …

Jeremy Corbyn unveils Labour manifesto with £75bn boost for affordable housing: ‘I welcome hatred of rich and powerful’
5 years, 4 months ago

Jeremy Corbyn unveils Labour manifesto with £75bn boost for affordable housing: ‘I welcome hatred of rich and powerful’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Labour said the “housing revolution” will bring the number of new social homes to a …

Families on housing benefit unable to afford 94% of rental homes, research finds
5 years, 5 months ago

Families on housing benefit unable to afford 94% of rental homes, research finds

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Every day on the ground, Shelter’s staff see the impacts of housing benefit falling …

Housing crisis: Solving the issue require careful consideration, not a quick fix
5 years, 5 months ago

Housing crisis: Solving the issue require careful consideration, not a quick fix

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As parliament …

Theresa May speaks out against construction of 'tiny' houses, calling for new design standards
5 years, 9 months ago

Theresa May speaks out against construction of 'tiny' houses, calling for new design standards

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Theresa May is calling for new design standards for house builders …

Third of councils failing to build enough homes for local people
5 years, 10 months ago

Third of councils failing to build enough homes for local people

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Almost a third of councils in England have failed a new …

Councils struggle to cope with rising homelessness as ministers ‘shirk responsibility’
6 years ago

Councils struggle to cope with rising homelessness as ministers ‘shirk responsibility’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The government is passing the buck to councils, and some councils are gatekeeping, trying …

If Britain chooses to stay in the EU, the government must then embark on a mass house-building programme
6 years, 1 month ago

If Britain chooses to stay in the EU, the government must then embark on a mass house-building programme

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Each year, …

Government needs to build three million social homes to solve housing crisis, finds landmark review
6 years, 2 months ago

Government needs to build three million social homes to solve housing crisis, finds landmark review

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An additional three million social homes are needed to solve …

Number of new social homes being built down 90% since Tories came to power in 2010
6 years, 9 months ago

Number of new social homes being built down 90% since Tories came to power in 2010

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of social homes being built has fallen by almost …

UK facing its biggest housing shortfall on record with backlog of 4m homes, research shows
6 years, 10 months ago

UK facing its biggest housing shortfall on record with backlog of 4m homes, research shows

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. David Orr, the federation’s chief executive, added: “This research shows the epic scale of …

Number of social homes to fall by 230,000 by 2020, analysis reveals
7 years, 1 month ago

Number of social homes to fall by 230,000 by 2020, analysis reveals

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Since 2010, the Government has stopped all central funding for new social housing and instead …

More than half a million social homes in England do not meet basic health and safety standards
7 years, 3 months ago

More than half a million social homes in England do not meet basic health and safety standards

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than half a million social homes in England fail …

A View from the Top: James Lidgate, director of housing at Legal & General Capital
7 years, 4 months ago

A View from the Top: James Lidgate, director of housing at Legal & General Capital

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Legal & General’s chief executive, Nigel Wilson, has made …

Council housing numbers hit lowest point since records began
7 years, 4 months ago

Council housing numbers hit lowest point since records began

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Ministers have come under mounting pressure to reverse policies that have seen the number of …

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