Addressing the need for affordable housing

Amid soaring rents and rising mortgage rates, demand for housing continues to outstrip supply across all tenures with the industry battling to deliver on targets.

In its latest annual report, Homes England, the government agency which administers the £11.5bn affordable homes programme, revealed it had delivered 26,953 homes – 21% off the 34,349 targeted.

Planning delays, supply chain issues, material availability and labour shortages were cited as reasons for missing the target – all issues that are affecting the wider housing and construction industries.

Yet while the number of affordable homes delivered fall short of the goal, the Government has outlined plans to extend the Right to Buy scheme to 2.5 million housing association tenants with the promise of replacing these properties for one to one.

The proposals have faced broad criticism. The Local Government Association labelled the plans as unattainable, while housing charity Shelter slammed the policy as “reckless” and putting the “rapidly shrinking supply of social homes at even greater risk”.

Internationally, the right to adequate housing is one of the most well-recognised economic and social rights.

Housebuilders often face criticism from the general public who perhaps don’t appreciate the nuances of affordable in planning terms and to the consumer looking to purchase a property.

By and large, housing developments are planned to address a local market need. If that includes building executive family homes rather than low-cost housing, the fact that people are moving up the property ladder frees up homes on lower rungs.

As an industry, alongside building private sale homes, we also have a social and moral responsibility to provide housing for those most in need – be that through building affordable homes as part of new communities or providing financial contributions to local authorities.

During the last financial year, we launched Castle Green Partnerships as a mechanism for partnering with housing associations to deliver much-needed affordable housing across North Wales and the North West of England.

Amid the rising cost of living, it’s imperative that we provide affordable housing, built to the latest building regulations with energy efficient features that should reduce household bills.

We’ve started work to provide affordable homes in Daresbury in partnership with Torus, our first North West partner, while in North Wales we have an ongoing relationship with social housing provider Adra.

Through these partnerships along with building homes, we’re also providing job opportunities and supporting roles in the supply chain.

Selected industry experts bring you insight and expert advice, across a range of sectors.

Subscribe for free to receive our fortnightly round-up of property tips and expertise

Selected industry experts bring you insight and expert advice, across a range of sectors.

Subscribe for free to receive our fortnightly round-up of property tips and expertise

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below