Homes for the South West welcomes HCLG’s social housing report
Homes for the South West welcomes the publication today of the Housing, Communities & Local Government (HCLG) Committee report ‘Building More Social Housing’ and strongly agrees with the key recommendations it makes.
Homes for the South West was pleased to make a contribution to the Inquiry both through a written submission and in person when the group’s chair Victor da Cunha gave evidence to the committee.
The group welcomes the committee’s view that a social house-building programme should be “top of the Government’s agenda to rebuild the country from the impact of COVID-19” and that such a programme would provide jobs, boost the economy and help to fix a “broken housing system”.
Homes for the South West also endorses the report’s specific recommendations that:
- The sale of public land should be prioritised for the construction of social housing, and be co-ordinated by Homes England
- Increased central government grant is necessary to deliver the social rent homes the country needs
- Local Authorities should receive 100% of Right To Buy receipts and have longer to spend them
Victor da Cunha, Chair of Homes for the South West and CEO of Curo, says:
“This report is a landmark moment for the delivery of social housing. We wholeheartedly agree with the findings of the report, which accurately reflect the views we put forward in our written and oral evidence to the committee.
“New housing, particularly affordable housing, is essential. Right now it’s even more important as a means of rebuilding the economy – it creates jobs, supports supply chains and provides good quality secure homes for the long term. This is true not only in the South West but right across the country, and Housing Associations will be a key trusted partner who can help government deliver on this.
“We thank the committee for their work, and would warmly welcome the opportunity to be involved in the implementation of their findings.”
Homes for the South West is a group of Chief Executives of some of the largest housing associations in South West England. The group is currently preparing a submission to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review to offer its views on how the delivery of new housing in the region can be supported. You can read more here.
