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Housing targets for South-East 'will create ghettos'
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent2 Jan 2009
PLANS to mix social housing with private homes across the South-East are doomed, the Government was warned today.
The slump in new private sector homes could lead to developments made up almost entirely of housing association and other "affordable" properties, planners warned. They said ministers risked creating "ghettos" of social housing under plans to build more than 660,000 homes in the South-East.
The South East England Regional Assembly has raised its fears with the Commons all-party communities committee, which is investigating the impact of the credit crunch on housing.
Ministers are demanding 662,500 new homes be built over the 20 years to 2026, a four per cent increase on the proposals from independent inspectors. But the regional planners said it was vital to build the right size and type of homes in the right locations. "We wish to create mixed communities without the dominance of a single tenure," they said.
They also warned that the Government, through the Housing Corporation and the Homes and Communities Agency, would place an "over-emphasis on headline numbers".
Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said: "As the Government's target of building three million homes by 2020 looks like pie in the sky, it must not repeat the mistakes of the Sixties by creating social housing ghettos in a panicked attempt to reverse a failing policy."
The Department for Communities accepted SEERA had raised "important issues". A spokesman added: "Last April we introduced major changes to the planning rules which require councils to provide a mix of housing."
Ministers say the new homes are vital in the South-East to stop future generations facing an acute housing shortage.
Reader views (7)
In response to Dan:- A ghetto is a ghetto and if you live near it, you are more likely to be a victim of crime. With regard to his comment about SEERA, consist of unelected people who do the Governments bidding and set housing numbers in areas for which they have no knowledge. We have elected Councils for this purpose so why do we have to have unelected government lackies over ruling the very people we elect to look after our interests? It is not SEERA looking after Tory areas, it is Labour ensuring it over rules Tory councils. Hazel Blears, Minister for Communities and Environment - utter tosh. Her title should be changed to Minister for the DESTRUCTION of environment and communities, such is the damage she levies on Borough Councils and then once she has put in place unsuitable building plans, no longer has any responsibility for her actions. This lot will not be happy until the whole of the south east is covered in concrete, be it roads, airports and runways or 'affordable' homeswith rents of £1,400 per month for a 3 bed house. Call that Affordable - a mortgage would be cheaper.
- Annie Wade, Addlestone, Surrey, 06/01/2009 15:42
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Unfortunately Triffidqueen is right, people don’t want to live near ‘riff raff’ or a more appropriate phrase, people on low incomes.
It is Prejudice and snobbery that creates ghettos.
- Andrea, London, 05/01/2009 09:28
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Affordable housing is easy..do not let them get pricey in the first place. Build lots and not targetted, the prices will come down if you have enough houses.
- S. Mcslurp, London, 04/01/2009 21:31
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SEERA is protecting their own Tory councillors as usual. These councils have done NOTHING to protect or provide homes for the local communities. We have spent years watching our villages die as homes were bought up by the rich for their weekends while our children have had to move to the cities and towns.
Mixed communities are wonderful environments that educate and enrich us all.
A ghetto is a ghetto whether full of the rich or poor.
- Dan, london, 02/01/2009 17:54
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Unless Labour's dream for housing in the South East is managed responsably it will be about as successful as the Thames Gateway Housing Project. It's 'Managed' by 64 different agencies and no-one knows if they've built 4000 or 40 homes.Don't expect 30,000 homes a year,500 would be more likely
- Jeremiah, London, 02/01/2009 17:30
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The goverment really just dosn't get it, do they. The reason why people want to buy their own home, is because they want a choice about where they live. Usaully the choice of where to live, includes living far away from riff raff. If you live on an estate, why on earth would you want to buy your own home living side by side with people you want to get far away from!
- Triffidqueen, Desk in London, 02/01/2009 12:42
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Cutting immigration would help reduce housing demand. Housing assocations only house people on benefits if you work in low paid jobs you cannot afford the rent. So its new areas of yet more unemployed, single parents with there many children and no go areas.
- Maggie, London, 02/01/2009 11:21
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