News

The Deputy Prime Minister announced the launch of the new Council Housebuilding Support Service, a fully funded initiative to boost council-led housebuilding across England.

Today, the Government has announced a raft of measures to boost social housing. Responding, Cllr Adam Hug, Housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: “This is a meaningful step towards addressing the housing crisis we face and helping to deliver the social and affordable homes needed."

Cllr Adam Hug, Housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: "We are pleased the Government has acted on the LGA’s call for it to be easier for councils to penalise developers and acquire stalled housing sites or sites which have not been built out to timescales contractually agreed, ideally with the recovery being made at pre-planning gain prices."   

“Every child and family deserve quality, stable accommodation, and councils strive to make sure that the necessary support is available. However, it is no secret that the scale of the challenge facing local government on temporary accommodation and homelessness – and the financial pressures – are immense."

“Long-term empty homes are a major issue for councils...This toolkit will give Empty Homes Officers the practical tools they need to bring more properties back into use and support councils in tackling the issue more effectively."

“This additional funding for affordable housing will provide much needed certainty and stability to councils and other housing providers."

“Councils are committed to keeping tenants and residents safe, and are keen to work with Government to drive the pace of remediation...However, as this report shows, it is still a major issue that requires significant funding and resource to address properly.

New research by the LGA has found that councils face impossible choices between maintaining and repairing existing housing stock and building new homes.

“This Bill has included some of the LGA’s long term asks, such as making it easier for councils to purchase vacant land for house building, localising planning fees, and increasing planning capacity...However, there remains concerns around how it will ensure that councils – who know their areas best and what they need – remain at the heart of the planning process."

“The Grenfell Tower fire was a tragedy which must never be repeated, and our thoughts remain with those who lost their lives and those affected by the devastating events of June 2017.