Housing Has To Be At the Top of Local Government's Agenda

LGC reports this week on how the number of new homes begun by councils rose by 23% in 2013 on the previous year. While this increase in council housebuilding is welcome, it is still woefully inadequate. According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK has experienced the steepest population growth of any European country, with our population growing by 420,000 in the year to June 2012. In 2013, according to the CLG, just 109,000 houses were completed – way down on the 177,000 recorded in 2007. Too few houses are being built. This is leading to overcrowding and homelessness, as well as a missed opportunity to boost the fragile economic recovery.  Housing should be at the top of local government’s agenda. Failure to supply it will hold back each area’s potential and sow the seeds of social discontent. Read more on the Local Government Chronicle website.