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| Home building plans 'in trouble' | Home building plans 'in trouble' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A government pledge to build three million affordable new homes by 2020 is in trouble because of the recession, the housing minister has said. | A government pledge to build three million affordable new homes by 2020 is in trouble because of the recession, the housing minister has said. |
| Margaret Beckett said the government must now look at ways to put the programme "back on track" once the downturn comes to an end. | Margaret Beckett said the government must now look at ways to put the programme "back on track" once the downturn comes to an end. |
| She said the government was doing what it could to help the building industry. | She said the government was doing what it could to help the building industry. |
| But housing bodies are calling on the government to do more, including invest in the UK's one million empty homes. | But housing bodies are calling on the government to do more, including invest in the UK's one million empty homes. |
| In 2007, Gordon Brown promised to build three million affordable homes to help reduce the housing waiting list, which now stands at nearly five million. | In 2007, Gordon Brown promised to build three million affordable homes to help reduce the housing waiting list, which now stands at nearly five million. |
| But Mrs Beckett said of the targets: "They were set because of the predicted levels of household growth - that is not going away. | But Mrs Beckett said of the targets: "They were set because of the predicted levels of household growth - that is not going away. |
| What we're not going to do is do the jobs that local authorities should be doing Housing minister Margaret Beckett | What we're not going to do is do the jobs that local authorities should be doing Housing minister Margaret Beckett |
| "So of course we're in difficulty at the present time because there is very little building. | "So of course we're in difficulty at the present time because there is very little building. |
| "But what we have to do now is to consider how we can tackle that," she told BBC News. | "But what we have to do now is to consider how we can tackle that," she told BBC News. |
| "Now we have to consider when this recession comes to an end, which it will, some day, how can we get back on track." | "Now we have to consider when this recession comes to an end, which it will, some day, how can we get back on track." |
| Richard Diment, of the Federation of Master Builders, said it was unlikely the targets would be met. | Richard Diment, of the Federation of Master Builders, said it was unlikely the targets would be met. |
| He said house building was at about 20% the rate that it was 12 months ago, making it "extremely difficult" to hit the targets. | He said house building was at about 20% the rate that it was 12 months ago, making it "extremely difficult" to hit the targets. |
| Mrs Beckett insisted the government was doing all it could to help, including bringing forward £1.2bn of investment in construction, maintenance and repairs. | Mrs Beckett insisted the government was doing all it could to help, including bringing forward £1.2bn of investment in construction, maintenance and repairs. |
| "We're doing everything we can to sustain and support [the construction industry]. | "We're doing everything we can to sustain and support [the construction industry]. |
| Empty homes 'important' to scheme | |
| "We're working with them to prepare for the upturn when it comes," she added. | "We're working with them to prepare for the upturn when it comes," she added. |
| The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors suggested the only way to deal with the current housing problem was to renovate empty homes. | The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors suggested the only way to deal with the current housing problem was to renovate empty homes. |
| Simon Rubinsohn, of the The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, said: "While it's understandable that the government may not feel that this is the easiest way and perhaps the most opportune way of actually dealing with the problem, ultimately I think probably in the short-term, it is the only way." | Simon Rubinsohn, of the The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, said: "While it's understandable that the government may not feel that this is the easiest way and perhaps the most opportune way of actually dealing with the problem, ultimately I think probably in the short-term, it is the only way." |
| Margaret Beckett said if there were empty homes the government could help, but urged the local authorities to do more to find them and make them habitable. | Margaret Beckett said if there were empty homes the government could help, but urged the local authorities to do more to find them and make them habitable. |
| "What we're not going to do is do the jobs that local authorities should be doing. | "What we're not going to do is do the jobs that local authorities should be doing. |
| "They do have opportunities, they do have their own resources and you know we're keen that they are more pro-active than sometimes some of them have been on this subject," she said. | "They do have opportunities, they do have their own resources and you know we're keen that they are more pro-active than sometimes some of them have been on this subject," she said. |