South West Housing Initiative

NIMBYS MUST NOT BLOCK SOUTH WEST PEOPLE FROM FINDING A HOME

South West Housing Initiative responds to survey, indicating that one in four households have opposed planning applications

South West “baby-boomers” must think of the next generation, barred from finding a home in the region, before becoming NIMBY opponents of development, according to a unique partnership of home providers.

The South West Housing Initiative, the UK‘s first collaboration of housing providers and professions, has responded to new research, revealing that one in four households has actively opposed a planning application in the past year, with 86% of the population now classified as “nimbys” (Not In My Back Yard).

According to Martin Willey, co-ordinator of the South West Housing Initiative (a voluntary partnership of the region‘s biggest house builders, housing associations, housing professions, and employers), said: “This region has the UK‘s biggest housing crisis, with the largest affordability gap between average salaries and average house-prices, and the biggest gap between demand and delivery of new homes”.

However, new research from the Saint Consultancy has revealed that a quarter of households are now actively involved in nimby resistance to new developments, with most resistance to new homes being mounted by ‘late baby-boomers‘.

“We all understand why ‘baby-boomers‘ might want to stall any change; but they have to understand the dire plight of young people and key-workers, vital to the region‘s community and economy but unable to find a home in the South West.

“We recognise understandable concerns about poor developments, but we are committed to building sustainable communities with the design and aesthetics of new homes complementing this region‘s attractive urban and rural landscape”, said Mr Willey.

Saint Consulting‘s survey indicating that nimby resistance to new housing is on the increase, at a time when the Government has recognised the need to deliver more new homes.

“In the South West, which is becoming the retirement home to so many of the ‘baby-boom‘ nimby population, we have to make them realise that their lifestyle will decline if young people and key workers have to move elsewhere to find a home”, said Mr Willey.

ENDS 19th March 2008

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