News

Crisis More Homes Needed - By Jill Sherman

The Times - 21st January 2005

Mr Prescott's office has already made clear that it is "disappointed" that the assembly has included two options which are below the current housing needs of the region.  A spokesman said yesterday: " We claerly expect it to take into account the needs of the region, in particular the problems of affordability and homelessness, so we are understandably disappointed that members have chosen to reject the technical advice of their own officers.  "We have not been building enough homes.  In the wider South-East, new build rates are only 75 per cent of assessed need.  During the past six years alone, we have witnessed average house prices in the South East increase by 127 per cent and the widening affordability gap for those on lower incomes, especially key workers."  Sharon Hedges, acting head of south Region for the National Housing Federation and an assembly member, said: " Political manoeuvring has already reduced the proposed number of new homes in the face of stark evidence of the housing crisis in the South East.