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News Release from: The Town and Country Planning Association | Subject: National housing conference
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 April 2005
Homes supply "worse now than when
records began"
New housing proposals could deliver fewer homes than ever before - since records began, Gideon Amos, Director of the housing and sustainable development campaign group the TCPA1, claimed today.
New housing proposals could deliver fewer homes than ever before - since records began, Gideon Amos, Director of the housing and sustainable development campaign group the TCPA1, claimed today Chairing a national housing conference in London within a month of the anniversary of the now famous Barker Report on housing supply, Mr Amos said: "Instead of addressing the crisis of housing shortages, so well documented in the independent Barker Review, politicians are in danger of going into reverse - giving rise to the risk that in the Southeast at least we shall soon be building fewer homes than at any time since records began." In 2003 the House Builders Federation pointed out that house building in England was at its lowest level since the First World War
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 14 Oct 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The TCPA points to recent proposals in the Southeast (on which consultation closes next week4) for a cut in the number of homes to be provided in the region on those planned 4 years ago (34,5005) to a figure as low as 25,500.
Back in 1999 the independent Planning Inspector for the Southeast recommended an even higher figure of 39,825 homes per year6.
If falls in the planned number of homes continue, levels will plummet to their lowest point since records began before the First World War.
"Ironically, instead of facing up to the tough issue of the need for more homes, politicians in the Southeast have actually opted to cut plans for new housing still further", said Mr Amos.
"More problematic still, election fever has now gripped the debate and too many politicians are running away from the challenge presented by the housing crisis." The TCPA believes that the need for homes deserves greater attention from all parties in their General Election campaigning.
"Opposing the provision of new housing may go down well with some voters, but vast numbers of families are experiencing real housing problems and levels of homelessness are rising." "Not only are we facing real problems today, but by failing to supply sufficient homes we are storing up problems for our children".
"The next generation is perhaps the most badly represented constituency in this election", said Mr Amos.
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