NHF calls for 'rethink' on affordable housing construction

11-Jul-2008

Government proposals to build more affordable homes in the UK have been welcomed with caution by the National Housing Federation (NHF).

According to the organisation, it is imperative that more such properties are constructed, but adequate funds must be made available to complete the task satisfactorily.

"Now is the time to rethink how we fund affordable housing and also now is the time to look at how we can help house builders to continue to deliver affordable homes at a very difficult time for the industry," remarked the NHF's Joe Dumont.

"When the market actually corrects and house prices start to go up again, the environment becomes easier for private-sector builders to deliver homes so they need to be in a position to start building again quickly," he added.

The NHF's comments follow housing minister Caroline Flint's announcement of a series of measures to help encourage builders to build more affordable homes, including funds dedicated to the construction of 1,500 shared ownership homes over the next three years.

Earlier this year, the Federation of Master Builders claimed an undersupply of new homes has contributed to first-time buyers' struggle to get on the housing ladder.

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