GOVERNMENT’S RURAL HOUSING POLICY FALIING
April 17, 2007 10:06 AM
'In the Chancellor's recent Budget he stated that there would be more funding for affordable homes. Yet the Government is only providing half the number of required rural homes according to the Affordable Rural Housing Commission,' says Nick Harvey.
'In addition the government is failing key workers. They have provided 40,000 affordable homes to key workers since 1999, when estimated demand is for 60,000 a year. On top of this the homes do not remain affordable for long, as they can and are sold on the open market.'
'While the Government has a number of shared ownership schemes (including Open Market HomeBuy, New Build HomeBuy and the First Time Buyers Initiative), these are effectively subsidising prices and ensuring that those lucky enough to be eligible benefit from the increase in any subsequent market value. This is not what these schemes were supposed to do.'
The National Affordable Housing Programme 2006-2008 is to build 6,400 affordable homes in rural England, but the Affordable Rural Housing Commission have identified a requirement for almost double this with 11,000 a year.
Increases of funding for affordable housing will mainly be through extending the current HomeBuy schemes. Almost £1 billion from the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programmes has been earmarked for shared ownership schemes between 2006 and 2008. This sum, plus £2.5 billion of private finance from first time buyers and Registered Social Landlords will deliver 32,078 low cost homeownership units. This will not meet demand.
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