Non government bodies targeted in land drive
The government is extending the reach of its drive to make land available for house building by targeting organisations outside its direct control.
Housing minister Grant Shapps announced yesterday that the Communities and Local Government department is now working with the BBC, Network Rail and the Royal Mail to unlock land.
Mr Shapps unveiled the move in a statement to parliament giving an update on progress on implementing the Laying the foundations housing strategy, which was published in November.
Earlier in the week he had announced that the department is ahead of schedule with its plans to release land for house building, having already identified space for 80,000 of its targeted 100,000 homes.
Mr Shapps also announced the publication of the final determinations for the reform of the housing revenue account subsidy system. These are the payments stock-owning councils must make or receive to gain control of the revenue they get from rents and right to buy sales.
He gave more details of the new build mortgage indemnity scheme, which will allow buyers of new homes to access 95 per cent loan to value mortgages by giving government security. This will be known as the newbuild guarantee and will be available to anyone buying their main home at a value of up to £500,000.
Mr Shapps also highlighted the consultation on building regulations, which is partly designed to increase take up of the green deal energy efficiency scheme, and the publication of the latest allocations from the new homes bonus and the growing places infrastructure fund.
The statement concludes: ‘In summary, the coalition government is getting on with the job of delivering the commitments set out in the housing strategy - bringing to life proposals to deliver more new homes, built to the highest quality; to get house builders building again; and to support tenants and prospective buyers to own their own home.’
