Local authorities can foster a ‘homebuilding revolution’ if they are put at the heart of regional developments, a report claims.
An independent study has proposed councils should become ‘housing delivery enablers’, assessing residential need in their areas while working with businesses and housing associations to deliver the right homes for the community.
The report from housing finance expert, Natalie Elphicke, and board member of the Homes and Communities Agency and leader of Eastleigh BC, Cllr Keith House, also urges the Government to support town halls to provide backing for smaller and start up housing businesses.
Cllr House said: ‘We have seen some inspiring examples of councils driving housing for their areas, particularly where they have set up housing companies to drive forward housebuilding. With skills and confidence, more councils can help to deliver that step-change in housing supply.’
Elphicke said: ‘All hands are needed on deck. Unlocking councils will help to deliver the homes we need and get more young people onto the housing ladder.
‘We have talked for a decade. There have been many great reforms. Now it’s time for councils to foster a homebuilding revolution. Councils hold the key to shake up the status quo and to get Britain building.’
Ministers have accepted many of the report’s recommendations, pledging to provide additional advice on supporting communities that want to bring forward a neighbourhood plan.
Chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: ‘Local authorities already play a key role in meeting housing needs in their areas across England. However, as this review demonstrates, there is clearly scope for them to go further to help solve the country’s current housing crisis.’
Housing minister Brandon Lewis added: ‘I now want to see local authorities seizing this new opportunity to support local residents and businesses to build more in their area.’
Responding to the report, Local Government Association housing spokesman, Cllr Peter Box, said: ‘Councils are already working hard to make sure the homes our communities need get built. We have the ambition and appetite to build more affordable homes and are finding innovative ways to use land and finance building schemes. Councils must have a lead role in building if we are to deliver the homes and infrastructure we need, as this report recognises.
‘Councils have set a precedent in the past and shown they can deliver housing on a large scale. National politicians need to recognise this once again and we hope all parties make housing a priority in their manifestos.’
