Government Should ‘Throw Weight Behind’ Council Housing Companies

The government should “throw its weight behind” council housing companies, the chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) has said. Lord Gary Porter was responding to a report from the Smith Institute which reveals a “quiet revolution” in council housebuilding, with around 150 councils setting up housing companies despite little government support. The report shows that increasing numbers of councils are directly funding their own housing companies without government grant to try and meet local housing need, mostly building homes for private rent and sale. Some are recycling the company’s profits to subsidise new affordable and social rented homes, as well as providing temporary accommodation and housing for older people. Read a summary of the report on the Smith Institute website.