News story

30th November 2001

MP Speaks Out At Westminster For Local Families In Housing Need

Northavon MP Steve Webb this week pressed the Government to take urgent action to deal with the shortage of affordable homes in South Gloucestershire. On Wednesday (29th November) the MP led a debate on the subject which was responded to by Sally Keeble MP, a minister in the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions. Steve Webb said that he had sought the debate because the lack of affordable housing had started to become one of the biggest issues in his constituency surgery.

The Lib Dem MP said that the shortage of council houses and housing association properties meant that many families were living in accommodation that was overcrowded or otherwise unsuitable for bringing up children. He pointed out that nearly 200 council houses are sold each year through the right-to-buy scheme, but that fewer than 100 new housing association properties are being built to take their place. When new housing developments are being planned, developers are prepared to offer to help pay for community facilities such as schools or leisure centres, but are resistant to building low-cost housing, which makes the problem worse.

In response, the Minister said that the Government was increasing funding for affordable housing and said that councils should do all that they could through the planning system to increase the number of such homes that were being built.

Commenting after the debate, Steve Webb said:

“I have become increasingly concerned about the number of local people who are having to live in quite unsuitable housing. Families quite properly
want the best for themselves and their children and yet are getting stuck for long periods in inappropriate accommodation. I will continue to talk to the Council about what can be done on a local basis, but it is clear that more central government support for Housing Associations would also make a real difference.”


*** ENDS ***