Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable

Sep 24 2007 The Journal

UNLESS we act now, by 2026 first time home buyers will find average house prices are 10 times their salary. This could lead to real social inequality and injustice.” This was the view of Housing Minister Yvette Cooper on launching the Government’s Housing Green Paper last July.

Homes are the building blocks of our communities. They affect our health, our wealth and our opportunities for happiness.

For most of us a home is the biggest investment we will ever make, the biggest asset we will ever own.

Despite huge achievements in the delivery of housing policy since 1997 coupled with huge investment, there are now new challenges that urgently need to be addressed.

Demand for homes to buy or rent is growing faster than supply and homes are becoming less affordable.

Already many first-time buyers rely on the help of friends or family to get a foot on the ladder. Population is expected to continue to rise, but the average household size is falling. In 1971, 19% of households were one-person households. Latest evidence shows this is now 32%.

Also there are the challenges of climate change. Our homes account for more than a quarter of all national carbon emissions. To try to address this, new homes must be greener and better designed to help prevent climate change as well as being resilient to its consequences.

All homes need to be more energy efficient.

The Housing Green paper – Housing for the future; more affordable, more sustainable – is now out for consultation and the Government is seeking views by October 15.

Proposals include:

• 3 million more homes by 2020;

• A commitment to build at least 70,000 affordable homes a year by 2010-11; including a significant increase in the number of social homes in both urban and rural areas;

• Areas in the North will for the first time bid to be designated “new growth points” to achieve sustainable growth and meet housing needs now and in the future;

• Additional support for the infrastructure necessary to create new homes in a sustainable community;

• An invitation to councils and developers to bid for at least five new zero carbon eco towns, each with 5,000 to 20,000 homes by 2016;

• A target that from 2016 all new homes should be zero carbon, with milestones that by 2010 new homes should emit 25% less carbon; and by 2013, 44% less carbon;

• A drive to ensure there are enough people with the right skills to support future housing growth.

The Government is seeking responses by October 15 to the questions and proposals contained in the Green Paper which can be viewed at www.communities.gov.uk