Housing for a fairer society: The role of councils in ensuring stronger societies
APSE’s latest report with the TCPA exposes the impact of permitted development rights as a potential threat to the health and wellbeing of residents.
The report finds that half of councils in England think permitted development housing could threaten people’s health and wellbeing and in England vulnerable people are disproportionately negatively affected by permitted development. The report also finds that 59% of UK councils report ‘severe’ shortages of affordable housing.
Whilst the government’s proposed removal of the limit on Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing was broadly welcomed, building affordable housing is found to be out of reach to 32% of local authorities who no longer have an HRA account and for the fourth consecutive year councils across the UK are reporting ‘severe’ shortages of affordable housing.
Among the report’s recommendations is the suspension of the right to buy in England, the reinstatement of a definition of affordable housing which links affordability to income and the adoption of ‘community benefit clauses’ in planning policy to ensure that local authorities consistently maximise the wider benefits of the construction and development process.
The full report, which was launched at the House of Lords on Tuesday 16 July can be downloaded by clicking the button.
Promoting excellence in public services
APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit unincorporated association working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority frontline services, hosting a network for frontline service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, cemeteries and crematorium, environmental health, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.
.png)
.png)
