ao link
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles

Housing bodies demand ‘levelling up’ of housing funding for the North in Budget

The government must use its upcoming Budget to tackle inequalities around the funding of affordable homes in the North if it is to achieve its aim of “levelling up” regions outside London and the South East, a number of sector groups have warned.

Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Sector wants Rishi Sunak to tackle regional housing inequalities (picture: Chris McAndrew, Getty)
Sector wants Rishi Sunak to tackle regional housing inequalities (picture: Chris McAndrew, Getty)
Sharelines

Housing bodies demand “levelling up” of housing funding for the North in Budget #ukhousing

The @NHC calls for a “truly national” affordable homes programme that does not place “arbitrary restrictions” on areas in the North as part of its Budget asks #ukhousing

Calls for the creation of a new centre for housing and planning in the North of England among Budget asks from housing sector bodies #ukhousing

Trade bodies have ramped up the pressure on chancellor Rishi Sunak to use his Budget on 11 March to tackle the regional inequalities in the housing market.

In its Budget proposal, the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) has called for a “truly national” Affordable Homes Programme that does not place “arbitrary restrictions” on areas in the North.

Currently the government’s five key housing funds concentrate 80% of all investment in areas of “high affordability pressure”, defined as areas where private rents exceed social rents by £50 or more per week on average.


READ MORE

Budget 2020: what the housing sector wants from the chancellorBudget 2020: what the housing sector wants from the chancellor
In the levelling-up debate, we must not forget LondonIn the levelling-up debate, we must not forget London
Levelling up may actually mean ‘softening up’ with regard to social housingLevelling up may actually mean ‘softening up’ with regard to social housing
Planning for Scotland’s future: what does the sector make of the Housing to 2040 consultation?Planning for Scotland’s future: what does the sector make of the Housing to 2040 consultation?
The housing sector is right to feel anxious about tomorrow’s BudgetThe housing sector is right to feel anxious about tomorrow’s Budget

According to the NHC, that means only four local authority areas in the North qualify for funding, while Shelter, which also called for a re-prioritising of social rent funding, found restrictions meant only 10 Northern councils have been able to bid for social rent grant since 2018.

The NHC has described the current formula as a “blunt tool”, which virtually eliminates use of social rent funding in Northern areas, despite a stark need.

Sinead Butters, chair of PlaceShapers and chief executive of Aspire, echoed these calls, saying that the country “needs a wholesale UK housing offer” that does not just focus on the “halcyon hotspots” of areas in the South.

The National Housing Federation said government could “kick-start its levelling-up agenda” by investing £1bn each year in renewing towns, cities and communities.

The G15 called for a high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds to be prioritised ahead of all other infrastructure projects , including Crossrail 2.

Click here to read more on the sector’s budget asks

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for our daily newsletter
Linked InTwitterFacebookeCard
Add New Comment
You must be logged in to comment.
By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Browsing is anonymised until you sign up. Click for more info.
Cookie Settings