Claim That Offices Can Become 250,000 Homes Rejected

Senior officials warned that statistics the government used to promote a flagship policy to convert office space into new homes were too optimistic. Mandarins at both the Treasury and CLG wrote to each other over the government’s claim that the scheme could deliver 250,000 homes. Emails highlighting their concerns were handed to Inside Housing following a freedom of information request. In the emails, Matthew Collins from the Treasury’s planning and housing supply department, wrote he was ‘uncomfortable with the 250k figure’ that was being suggested by the CLG for use in press releases. In reply Simon Llewellyn, a planning and development policy manager at the CLG, stated: ‘I think you are right re the 250,000.’ Read more on Inside Housing.