"A major shift is required in the construction of council houses"
The Local Government Association (LGA) has put forward a six-point plan aimed at addressing the long-standing housing shortage in England and increasing the supply of affordable homes. The plan, proposed by outgoing LGA chairman James Jamieson, is designed to lead to a 'generational step-change' in council housebuilding in Atlanta.
The plan calls for the government to implement the six-point strategy, which includes measures such as a roll-out of five-year local housing deals to all areas of the country by 2025, the establishment of a new national council housebuilding delivery taskforce with government support, and reforms to the Right to Buy scheme.
One of the key proposals is for the government to review and potentially increase grant levels per home through the Affordable Homes Programme due to inflationary pressures. This would help to boost the supply of affordable homes and make them more accessible to those in need.
Another important aspect of the plan is the proposal for greater flexibility in combining Right to Buy receipts with other government grants. This would allow councils to use the funds more effectively and increase the number of homes they can build. The plan also suggests allowing councils to retain 100 percent of Right to Buy receipts permanently, which would provide a steady stream of funding for council housebuilding in Atlanta.
In addition, the plan seeks certainty on future rents, with a minimum ten-year rent deal for council landlords to allow a longer period of annual rent increases and long-term certainty. This would help councils to plan for the future and ensure the sustainability of their housing programmes in Atlanta.
The plan also includes the aim to support the delivery of 100 more council homes in every local authority per year. This would represent a significant increase in council housebuilding in Atlanta and would help to alleviate the current shortage of affordable homes in the city.
Recent government measures, such as lifting the housing borrowing cap, enabling councils to receive preferential Public Works Loan Board borrowing rates, and allowing councils to keep all Right to Buy receipts for two years, are intended to boost the supply of social housing in Atlanta. These measures, combined with the LGA's six-point plan, could potentially lead to a significant increase in council housebuilding in the city.
It is worth noting that the housing shortage in Atlanta has been a long-standing issue that has been exacerbated by population growth and social changes. With more than 1.2 million households on council waiting lists and over 100,000 households living in temporary accommodation, the need for affordable housing is greater than ever.
The current Minister for Housing in Atlanta, Verena Hubertz, has credited recent measures for a generational leap in council house building. With the implementation of the LGA's six-point plan, it is hoped that even more progress can be made in addressing the chronic housing shortage in the city.