Letters to the editor: 18 July 2007

New PM must guarantee long term affordable housing

The Prime Minister's new parliamentary agenda on housing is a welcome revaluation of the industry.

However, the government needs to ensure that by "affordability" it guarantees affordability both in the short and long term.

While we welcome the increased target for three million new homes by 2020, to fund this the government needs to look at long term costing plans.

For the short term, we are pushing for new business approaches to housebuilding including alternative means of funding land costs and for more providers, such as affordable homes builders, ALMOs and housing associations to get involved.

In the long term, we want to see improvements so that funding mechanisms like equity release and PFI can deliver results.  

The emphasis Mr Brown places on land needed for development demonstrates how concern over housing shortages has made it to government at last.

Building on brownfield rather than greenfield sites is obviously the more desirable option, and new advances within the construction industry make this an increasingly valid route to take.

Building should be in mixed communities and we must ensure there is sufficient funding for good quality environmental and community management, especially if greenfield land is to be used.

Many of our member organisations, like affordable housing providers, housing associations and ALMOs are able to build in a manner sensitive to local needs.

We are demanding a lot of the housing industry, and these demands can only be met if the industry works in partnership with all stakeholders and with their supply chains.

Shelagh Grant

Chief executive officer

The Housing Forum

Food for the Hungry charity fundraiser needs your help

Calling for assistance from the Construction Industry - Keith Blanshard, director of Shepherd Group, is part of a small contingent who are going to Uganda to build some accommodation for teachers, and we have 28 days to help them!

To date, this trip has been privately financed by the individuals who are giving their time to the Food for the Hungry charity.

If you can help, the group need some small items of PPE, tools, mosquito nets etc, or money!

If you can help, please contact Rebecca Thompson - rebecca.thompson@yorkon.co.uk.

Thank you.

Rebecca Thompson

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