House building lowest since 1920s

So, the Tories admit that in the last seven years of their government, too few new homes have been built in this country.  The figure for the number of new houses built in the last seven years is the lowest peacetime level since the 1920s, nearly 100 years ago! The number of rough sleepers have risen. As has the problem of the ‘hidden homeless’. Rents have risen faster than incomes. There are 200,000 fewer home-owners than there were in 2010. For the under 45s the figure is 900,000! There is a severe shortage of affordable housing. 

Labour’s commitment to Basingstoke

Labour would invest £25 million in new Affordable Housing in Basingstoke. Labour Councillors are calling for the Borough Council, working with Housing Associations, to invest in building affordable homes. £25 million would be directly invested by Labour in new homes, working with housing associations and partners.

Basingstoke Labour Councillors are calling for discounted rental homes (socially rented homes). Homes that help first time buyers and renters. Homes that meet the needs of the vulnerable and those most in need. We need to see a spread of homes built that meet the variety of needs we see in Basingstoke. We need a ‘can do’ attitude from a Council that puts money and land forward working with partners to directly address the local housing crisis.

The Manydown development

Basingstoke & Deane Council, alongside Hampshire County Council and a strategic partner are bringing forward development of nearly 3,300 new homes on Manydown. This site was bought with taxpayers money, raised from the sales of Council Houses in the mid-90s for the express purposes of providing low cost and socially rented housing.

We are committed to 40% affordable housing which delivers socially rented homes. We want to see an exemplar development based on Garden Village Principles which adds quality and social value to our town. We will also defend 40% affordable housing on all major sites coming forward for development. We want an open book viability test, where any developer who fails to meet the 40% target will be obliged to publicly publish their financial claims for all to scrutinise.

Labour’s Manifesto pledge on house building

The Tories are promising a new form of right to buy social homes to fund new house building. Yet they have failed to deliver one-for-one replacements for homes sold through the Right-to-buy scheme. Shockingly, only one is being built for every five sold.

In its General Election 2017 manifesto Labour commits to building one million homes in the next five years including 100,000 affordable homes to buy or rent by the end of the next Parliament.