MORE HELP STILL NEEDED TO HOUSE KEY WORKERS

"The government's proposals to boost the supply of affordable housing are welcome, but will not deliver resources quickly enough to deal with the scale of the housing crisis in our three regions." This was the message from the latest meeting of the Advisory Forum on Regional Planning for London, the South East and the East of England.

Government needs to do more to boost supply of affordable housing
The three regions welcome the Government's proposals to improve the provision of affordable housing by establishing tariffs on new development. But they feel that reform of the Planning Obligations system will not provide sufficient resources, quickly enough, to address the lack of the affordable housing which is particularly acute in the three regions.

Advisory Forum Chair, Cllr Nick Skellett, from the South East England Regional Assembly said: "The three regions are deeply concerned about the urgent need to increase the provision of affordable housing. In November last year, we urged Lord Falconer to help in rapidly increasing the supply of affordable housing in the three regions. We understood from the Minister that the Planning Green Paper, and particularly the Planning Obligations reforms, might solve the problem. Although the Government's proposals will help, we do not think that it does enough. Ministers are relying too much on the planning system to solve the problem."

"Therefore, we will be making further representation to Lord Falconer, requesting a meeting as soon as possible so that we can put forward the case of all three regions to Government. This is an issue which underpins the economic success of the region and is not just going to go away."

Cllr Roy Davis, from the East of England Local Government Conference, agreed. "If we cannot increase the supply of affordable housing for people in London and the surrounding regions, the economy will suffer. We are no longer talking only about the poor - though their plight is severe and worsening - but also about teachers, nurses and other public service workers, and many other people vital to private industry and services, who cannot afford decent housing.

" The Government's proposals are an important step, but the planning system cannot do the whole job. More money is needed for affordable housing, to help public and private sectors make more housing available to rent and buy."

Nicky Gavron, Deputy Mayor of London said: "The problem is most acute in London, but unless it is dealt with in the context of the wider south east it will have even more serious consequences for the capital. A joint approach is vital."

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Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007