South West Housing Initiative

NEW PLAN COULD HELP SOLVE THE SOUTH WEST’S HOUSING CRISIS

Annual target for 10,000 affordable homes can help stem the loss of young people and key workers, say housing experts

Newly announced plans for 28,000 homes to be built each year in the South West is excellent news for the region‘s economy and communities, according to a unique partnership of the largest housing associations, housing professions, home builders, and employers.

The Inspector‘s report on the Inquiry into the new Regional Spatial Strategy recognises the need for 28,000 homes to be built each year, including at least 10,000 affordable homes.

“This is a crucial step towards tackling the country‘s biggest housing crisis, with the South West suffering the largest affordability gap between average house prices and average earnings, and the largest gap between supply and need”, said Martin Willey, co-ordinator of the South West Housing Initiative (SWHI).

While recognising concerns voiced by people who are fearful about where the new homes will be built, partners in the South West Housing Initiative have welcomed the recognition of the region‘s dire need for more housing.

“Years of inadequate housing delivery and strong demand in the South West have taken homes out of the reach of many local people. This is why the new plan‘s call for local councils to ensure that at least 10,000 of each year‘s new homes are truly affordable is vital”, said Mr Willey.

The RSS has stressed the need for local authorities to ensure that at least 35% of all housing developments are affordable, with that proportion rising to 60% and more for areas of greatest need.

“Rural areas, where most housing schemes are for less than 12 homes, can present opportunities for high levels of affordable homes. On larger sites, the challenge will be to deliver the accompanying infrastructure, which will demand investment from both the public sector and housing developers”, said Mr Willey.

But two other recent Government announcements encourage the SWHI to believe that solutions could be forthcoming.

“The planned creation of a South West regional unit of the new Homes and Community Agency (HCA) will be massively important. This move combines two existing Government bodies - English Partnerships, which controls thousands of acres of surplus public sector land, and the Housing Corporation, which controls £millions of Government money for affordable housing”, Mr Willey explained.

He also points out that the South West was the biggest “winner” in the latest Government spending announcement for new and improved affordable housing.

“The challenge now is for our councils‘ planning and housing departments to exploit these new opportunities to tackle their local housing problems, by establishing local need, identifying suitable sites, and processing planning applications.

“Councillors will need to look closely at the take-up of planning consents, the staffing levels in their planning teams, and their policies to deliver housing – especially affordable housing”, said Mr Willey.

“Government must also back its new recognition of the South West‘s housing needs with matching investment in the infrastructure that those new homes will need, from roads to schools”, he added.

Another potential challenge, however, was contained in the new RSS report, which proposes ambitious targets for the carbon-efficiency of new homes and on-site renewable energy generation for housing developments.

“The SWHI will monitor progress in developing the technology and supply of the carbon efficient buildings and products that will be needed to meet these targets, which could present a major challenge – especially if there is a short term decline in the housing market”, said Mr Willey.

Meanwhile, the SWHI is also conscious of potential “NIMBY” resistance from local residents.

“A key element of our message is that the region‘s housing crisis can be solved without losing sight of the vital role of high quality eco-friendly design. We are also dedicated to demonstrating that new homes can be provided in ways which enhance the quality and sustainability of local communities”, said Mr Willey.

“There is a host of best-practice examples in this region, to prove that new housing can, and should, add community value and an improvement to the local environment”, he added.

END 16th January 2008

For further information please contact David Sturgess, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email david@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR

The South West Housing Initiative is the UK‘s only voluntary partnership of the region‘s largest home-builders, housing associations, housing professions, and employers;

SWHI partners include:

The Home Builders Federation (HBF)

The National Housing Federation (NHF)

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

Individual supporters, including:

Clarke Willmott (Solicitors)

EDF Energy

Barratt Homes

The South West Housing Initiative was created in response to the region having Britain‘s biggest housing crisis – the biggest affordability gap between average house prices and average earnings, and the biggest gap between annual need (28,000 homes per year) and supply (currently less than 20,000 homes per year).

Details of the SWHI partners, conferences, statements, and best-practice case studies are available on the website: www.southwesthousing.co.uk