Tory Councillors In Revolt Over Plans To Accelerate Housebuilding

A growing rebellion among Conservative councillors is threatening government plans to accelerate housebuilding in England with six out of 10 believing reforms will make planning less democratic. A survey across Tory heartlands has revealed party representatives are baulking at ministers’ plans to sharply increase housing targets in electoral strongholds like Hampshire and Surrey and are rejecting attempts to cut planning committees out of routine decision-making. Conservative leaders in councils are becoming increasingly vocal in their opposition to the plans which they fear could result in countryside being concreted over for housing and core voters deserting them in disgust. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/27/tory-councillors-in-revolt-over-plans-to-accelerate-housebuilding 

Top Tory Councillor Wants RTB ‘Re-Think’

A top Tory councillor is calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to ‘re-think the rules’ on Right to Buy – evoking the spirit of Margaret Thatcher. Councillor Rock Feilding-Mellen is the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Cllr Feilding-Mellen says it would be better to fund RTB – for council tenants as well as for housing association tenants – by offering shared equity deals so when homes are sold the discount would be repaid to the Exchequer to be recycled to help more people. He says: “An approach along these lines would increase the chance of being able to prevent our cities from becoming polarised between rich and poor areas and preserve mixed communities.” Read more on 24housing.

Most Councillors Do Not See PRS as Top Priority

Only 2% of councillors in England see the private rented sector supply of housing as their top priority for new housing supply, a survey has revealed. The low priority for the PRS reflected major concerns councils have about regulating large numbers of small buy-to-let landlords; the poor quality of PRS homes; short leases and security of tenure; and rising rent levels. Conducted by the Smith Institute in partnership with Places for People, the survey - ‘The growth of the private rented sector: what do local authorities think?’ - found that councillors and officers are concerned with the quality of homes in the PRS – especially at the bottom end of the market. Download a copy of the report from the Smith Institute website.