Assemblies criticised over affordable housing inaction

22-Nov-2007

The majority of the UK's Regional Assemblies have not adequately investigated the need for more affordable housing in their rural areas and consequently have not allocated enough funding towards house building, a new report claims.

The Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has said that proposed levels of investment for rural areas will produce five per cent fewer homes in each of the next three years in comparison with recent levels.

The report will come as a blow to the government, which has already committed to building many more homes in both rural and urban areas over the next few years in order to counteract rising house prices.

The CRC has said that the government should do more to encourage assemblies to boost construction levels and thus help buyers get onto the first rung of the housing ladder.

"This is alarming, particularly as the crisis of affordability is greatest in rural communities. Regional bodies are failing to live up to the challenge of providing affordable homes to families and communities living in rural areas," commented CRC head of planning, housing and transport Trevor Cherrett.

"We are now calling on ministers to support their commitment by setting challenging targets for rural affordable housing delivery, ensuring that Regional Assemblies use the additional funds that have now been made available to them to meet these targets," Mr Cherrett added.

The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has responded to the report by saying that it will set specific targets for rural areas after consulting the assemblies themselves.

"The Housing Corporation s already investing £230 million to deliver around 6,300 homes in small towns and villages," the DCLG added in a statement.

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