Affordable housing threat quashed by MEPs

23-Feb-2006

A proposed directive from the European Parliament which would have lowered the standard for affordable homes building has been changed by MEPs.

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It had been feared that an article contained in the European Services Directive would mean companies contracted to carry out work in the UK would not have to meet current British standards on the quality of affordable housing.

That could have paved the way for large numbers of social housing and affordable housing schemes that were below UK standards, potentially threatening the concept of affordable housing as an attractive option for aspiring first time buyers.

However, pressure from the National Housing Federation and the European Liaison Committee for Social Housing convinced MEPs to amend the article so as to remove the "country of origin" proposal, which would have allowed firms from other countries to carry out work to standards satisfactory in their own country.

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It is hoped that the changes will secure the future of quality affordable and social housing schemes in the UK, providing first time buyers with a real opportunity to get onto the first rung of the property ladder.

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