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Sharp drop in new affordable homes under coalition, council data shows Sharp drop in new affordable homes under coalition, council data shows
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The coalition will commission just 37,000 new affordable homes for poorer residents – a fifth of the number ministers had promised to build by the end of the parliament - with Tory-controlled local authorities giving the go-ahead for an average of just 93 affordable homes per council, according to a survey. The coalition will commission just 37,000 new affordable homes for poorer residents – a fifth of the number ministers had promised to build by the end of the parliament – with Tory-controlled local authorities giving the go-ahead for an average of just 93 affordable homes per council, according to a survey.
Freedom of information requests by the Labour party to 324 local councils showed Tory administrations were building 30% fewer affordable homes than Liberal Democrat councils and about only 40% of those in Labour authorities, which were planning an average of 211 affordable properties over the next three years. More than 200 councils responded to the request for information. Freedom of information requests by the Labour party to 324 local councils showed Tory administrations were building 30% fewer affordable homes than Lib Dem councils and about only 40% of those in Labour authorities, which were planning an average of 211 affordable properties over the next three years. More than 200 councils responded to the request for information.
There are concerns that the number of affordable homes, be they in council hands or built by housing associations, has collapsed under the coalition. Last summer official statistics showed the number of "affordable housing starts" for 2011-12 fell by 68% on the previous year.There are concerns that the number of affordable homes, be they in council hands or built by housing associations, has collapsed under the coalition. Last summer official statistics showed the number of "affordable housing starts" for 2011-12 fell by 68% on the previous year.
Affordable housing – where rents are up to 80% of market rates, designed to help young people and families get a foot on the housing ladder – is a key plank of government policy. Last week the housing minister, Mark Prisk, told MPs the coalition would be "building 170,000 more affordable homes".Affordable housing – where rents are up to 80% of market rates, designed to help young people and families get a foot on the housing ladder – is a key plank of government policy. Last week the housing minister, Mark Prisk, told MPs the coalition would be "building 170,000 more affordable homes".
In its first year in government, however, construction started of 48,531 affordable homes in England and Wales, and in 2011-12 only 15,657. Labour says in the next three years just 44,450 homes will be built. In the coalition's first year in government, however, construction started of 48,531 affordable homes in England and Wales, and in 2011-12 only 15,657. Labour says in the next three years just 44,450 homes will be built.
Over the course of the parliament this would mean 108,638 affordable homes built in England and Wales, 72,000 of which were commissioned by the previous government. During the parliament this would mean 108,638 affordable homes built in England and Wales, 72,000 of which were commissioned by the previous government.
Hilary Benn, the shadow communities and local government secretary, said the survey, conducted by his office, revealed the government was far off its target of building 170,000 affordable homes over the five years of this parliament. Hilary Benn, the shadow communities and local government secretary, said the survey, conducted by his office, showed the government was far off its target of building 170,000 affordable homes over the five years of this parliament.
"The coalition is set to commission just 36,638 new affordable homes, a fifth of the number they promised to build. It is clear that David Cameron is in danger of breaking his promise to build 170,000 homes under this programme by 2015.""The coalition is set to commission just 36,638 new affordable homes, a fifth of the number they promised to build. It is clear that David Cameron is in danger of breaking his promise to build 170,000 homes under this programme by 2015."
Benn pointed out that the coalition had already "stretched the definition of affordable to the limit by increasing rents to levels completely unaffordable for many … It would be absolutely shocking if this government was not able to deliver what should have been a bare minimum of homes by 2015. Whether in national government or local government the Tories are simply not delivering on housing." Benn said the coalition had already "stretched the definition of affordable to the limit by increasing rents to levels completely unaffordable for many … It would be absolutely shocking if this government was not able to deliver what should have been a bare minimum of homes by 2015. Whether in national government or local government the Tories are simply not delivering on housing."
Sources in the department for communities and local government argued the survey had been skewed by not adjusting for the size of local authorities. Labour and the Liberal Democrats control "big councils" and this might account for the disparity in house-building numbers. "The biggest single causal influence in the number of homes being built is the size of the local authority … Birmingham is always going to build more homes than Boston," a spokesman said. Sources in the department for communities and local government said the survey had been skewed by not adjusting for the size of local authorities. Labour and the Lib Dems control "big councils" and this might account for the disparity in house-building numbers. "The biggest single causal influence in the number of homes being built is the size of the local authority … Birmingham is always going to build more homes than Boston," a spokesman said.
Benn, however, said "over half the responding councils were Tory controlled. The figures speak for themselves".Benn, however, said "over half the responding councils were Tory controlled. The figures speak for themselves".
There is a simmering feud between Labour and ministers over whether the government is manipulating housing numbers. Andrew Dilnot, the head of the UK statistics authority, ruled last July that the coalition had understated the number of new affordable homes produced under Labour.There is a simmering feud between Labour and ministers over whether the government is manipulating housing numbers. Andrew Dilnot, the head of the UK statistics authority, ruled last July that the coalition had understated the number of new affordable homes produced under Labour.
Prisk claimed the new survey by Benn was wrong. He said: "The government's affordable housing programme is on track to deliver 170,000 affordable homes in this parliament. Indeed, 60,000 affordable homes were built last year. 146 different housing providers have funding in place across England. By contrast, under the last Labour government, the amount of social housing fell by 421,000 homes."Prisk claimed the new survey by Benn was wrong. He said: "The government's affordable housing programme is on track to deliver 170,000 affordable homes in this parliament. Indeed, 60,000 affordable homes were built last year. 146 different housing providers have funding in place across England. By contrast, under the last Labour government, the amount of social housing fell by 421,000 homes."