Every area in England should be handed a new local housing deal by 2025 that combines funding from multiple national housing programmes into a single pot to spark a “generational step change” in council housebuilding.
At the LGA’s recent annual conference, former LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson set out a six-point plan that could support the delivery of 100 more council homes in every local authority each year.
In addition to local housing deals, the plan calls for a new national council housebuilding delivery taskforce, continued access to preferential borrowing rates through the Public Works Loan Board, further reforms to Right to Buy, certainty on future social rents, and a review of the Affordable Homes Programme’s grant levels.
Cllr Jamieson said: “Housing is too often unavailable, unaffordable, and is not appropriate for everyone that needs it.
“The right homes in the right areas can have significant wider benefits for people and communities, and prevent future public service challenges and costs.
“Our six-point plan would lead to a generational step change in council housebuilding and give local government the powers and funding to deliver thousands of social homes a year – at scale and fast.
“A genuine renaissance in council housebuilding would unlock local government’s historic role as a major builder of affordable homes, support strong and healthy communities, and help to build prosperous places.”
Over recent decades, construction of new homes has failed to keep pace with population growth and social changes.
There are not enough affordable homes to meet demand, with more than 1.2 million households on council waiting lists in England and more than 100,000 households living in temporary accommodation.
