South East residents want public money made available to help nurses, teachers and other low paid workers buy a home in the region, reveals a poll for the South East England Regional Housing Board (RHB).

The poll, by Ipsos MORI, shows that 83% support a publicly funded scheme to help all low income South East homebuyers.

Nurses top the list of people who deserve help to buy a home (83% supported this), followed by teachers, firemen (both 68% support) and policemen (65%). But there is also significant support for helping council staff (61%) and private sector workers (55%).

The poll questioned 1,520 South East tenants and homeowners about their housing priorities. Other key findings included:

• 99% said it was important that new homes were supported by good infrastructure such as transport, schools and hospitals
• 70% prefer to live in a house in 5 to 10 years' time; only 6% prefer a flat
• 63% want a home with more than 2 bedrooms
• 50% of tenants have no plans to buy a home, most of them say costs are too high.

Poll findings will inform the region's advice to Government on housing priorities, which will be agreed at the end of June.

Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright, the South East England Regional Assembly member chairing the RHB, said:

"This poll shows that we need more Government investment to bring affordable homes within reach of our residents. Also, to sustain a vibrant economy we need affordable housing for our workforce. Simply building homes is not enough - we built more homes last year than in any year since 1992 but still people cannot afford to buy. Affordable homes to rent and buy need public subsidy that we can't afford unless we get more funds from Government."

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Ipsos MORI interviewed 1,520 South East residents by telephone in spring 2007. Full report available on the polls page.
2. The Assembly's Regional Monitoring Report 2006 shows the region built 33,300 homes in 2005-6, up from 25,500 in 1992-3. Full report available in the publications section
3. The RHB meets on 20 June to agree its advice to Government on spending priorities for the housing in the South East from 2008-11. For Board papers, see the RHB page

The South East England Regional Housing Board

The Regional Housing Board is a partnership board comprising members of the South East England Regional Assembly and representatives of organisations with an interest in housing such as the South East England Regional Development Agency and English Partnerships.

The South East England Regional Assembly

1. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 112 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) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
3. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

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