Responding to today’s DCLG announcement on the consultation for
assessing housing need, Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s Housing
spokesman, said;
“Councils know that the only way to tackle our housing crisis is
to build more homes, and the right types of homes needed for our
communities. Councils already approve nine in 10 planning
permissions, but are often frustrated when approved homes aren’t
built quickly enough.
“There could be benefits to having a standard approach to
assessing the need for housing, but a formula drawn up in
Whitehall can never fully understand the complexity and unique
needs of local housing markets, which vary significantly from
place to place. It is crucial that councils and communities can
lead new development in their areas.
“Our residents are clear – new homes in their communities have to
be affordable, high-quality, and supported by adequate
infrastructure and sustainable local services. The only way to do
this is to make sure that councils, who are closest to the
communities they serve, have the powers and funding they need to
deliver homes that are right for their local area.
“This means powers to make sure developers build out approved
homes in a timely fashion, adequately funding planning
departments so that they can cover the cost of processing
applications, and freeing councils to borrow to build quality new
homes communities want and need.
“Ultimately we need a renaissance in council house building if
we’re to deliver the affordable homes this country needs –
national ambitions will not be realised without new freedoms and
powers for councils.”
