
Robert Halfon: The Conservatives were the party of affordable and social housing – and must be again
This government should not be afraid to fix the rules that are currently breaking our country’s housing market.
This government should not be afraid to fix the rules that are currently breaking our country’s housing market.
The Centre for Social Justice’s new report sets out in detail how the programme could be increased from 2,000 to 16,500 places.
Installing sprinklers would provide higher safety standards at a much lower cost. That alternative should be available.
Lambeth is the perfect storm of poor housing management, road closures, identity politics and a failed Mayor.
Councils should only enter into the investment world if they know what they’re doing. They must remember that public money is at serious risk.
Our survey identified 18,083 owned by councils in London. The true figure is likely to be over 20,000.
I have been frustrated, but unsurprised, by the unfounded rhetoric by some opposition politicians to the Planning White Paper.
Pledges on housing and the environment were abandoned. The Labour Group became embroiled in bullying and anti-semitism.
As Conservatives, we cannot, and should not, forget or ignore the necessity for a safety net; for good quality social housing that people enjoy living in.
It needs a clear prevention strategy in place by year-end, to provide a clear framework for local councils, and to roll out the Housing First Programme.
This is about basic fairness, and people on lower incomes deserving the same chance to get on the housing ladder.
Why shouldn’t councils build the homes needed? We can re-enter the market, using low costs of capital to borrow, and cut out the middleman.
If there is to be any positive legacy from the Grenfell fire, it must be that our building and fire safety regime is state of the art.
Limiting councils’ discretion could lead to a lot of fuss for little real change. The real problem is a geographically unbalanced economy.
Cut out the middleman. Go straight to the people who want to build – and help people who want to buy their home.