Queen's Speech Details Construction of 3m New Homes
While the Queen's Speech on the 6th November 2007 placed significant emphasis on anti-terrorism measures, it also focused on a proposal to construct three million extra homes in England by 2020. The Housing and Regeneration Bill includes the creation of the Homes and Communities Agency - tasked with a number of duties including ensuring a larger quantity of affordable housing becomes available.
Additionally, the Homes and Communities Agency will be responsible for bettering the current service provided to social tenants. It will also improve how extraneous public sector land is used, with a focus on achieving the best out of brownfield developments. Finally, the agency will be charged with guaranteeing the houses of the future reach their full environmentally-friendly potential.
1m People Have Become Homeowners Since 1997
In spite of the fact, said the government, that the past decade had seen homes being owned by one million more families, difficulties still remained. Among the challenges are those relating to the inability of first-time buyers to step on the bottom rung of the housing ladder, as well as the families putting up with inferior accommodation.
Housing Charity Shelter's Chief Executive, Adam Sampson, was receptive to the news, but with provisos.
"There is a dire shortage of homes throughout the country, so we welcome the creation of this new agency as the government's first step in delivering three million homes by 2020", he said. "But although the government can legislate for change, it's now up to other bodies like local authorities, developers, planners and housing associations to start delivering on the ground."
Separate to the new agency, the Planning Reform Bill aspires to accelerate planning decisions, particularly when in respect of significant infrastructure developments.
Included within this is the creation of the new Independent Infrastructure Planning Commission.
According to the government, the commission aims to guarantee "more timely and predictable decisions on infrastructure projects which are key to economic growth, international competitiveness, tackling climate change, energy security and improving quality of life".
Source - Construction International's Sub Editor
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