The government’s ‘half-baked’ Housing and Planning Bill will become law after peers finally conceded at the end of the parliamentary session.
Yesterday, the House of Commons blocked a final amendment by Lord Kerslake, which would have ensured sufficient funding was available to local authorities to deliver at least one new affordable home for each ‘higher value’ property sold to fund the extension of right to buy.
The Government has previously conceded to legislate for one-for-one replacement of council homes sold, but Lord Kerslake claimed this had to be accompanied by the necessary funding for local authorities.
However, chair of the Local Government Association Lord Porter called on peers to reject the amendment because the Government had ‘already given the assurance that noble Lords require: that we will be able to replace those council homes sold’.
Baroness Hollis of Heigham described the ‘skeleton Bill’ as the worst she had seen in 25 years. She said: ‘This is a half-baked, half-scrutinised, quarter digested Bill that is not fit for purpose.’
For on the Housing Bill please visit The MJ (£).
