Sajid Javid forces councils to give go-ahead to build thousands of new homes to help ‘desperate’ buyers
The Communities Secretary told MPs England required 266,000 new homes a year
NIMBY councils will be forced to build thousands more homes under radical plans to help “desperate” house buyers onto the property ladder.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid revealed town hall chiefs will have to green light construction programmes if average prices are greater than FOUR TIMES income.
Every additional per cent would require a proportionate about of more homes to be built.
And the Tory revealed official population projections would also be used in new tests to gauge housing need across the country.
He said England required 266,000 new homes a year – but this was based on forecasts that include a “substantial” fall in immigration post-Brexit.
Some 156 local authorities including Islington, Luton and Bristol would have to up their housing plans by as much as 35 per cent, he added.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Javid said: “As anyone who has tried to buy a rent a home recently would probably tell you, the housing market in this country is broken.
“The simple truth is that for far too long, we haven’t built enough homes and we don’t build them quickly enough. It’s time to fix that.”
He added: “It is so important that we fulfil such a commitment because the young people of 21st century Britain are reaching out in increasing desperation for the bottom rung of the housing ladder.
The Sun first revealed the Communities Secretary was considering the radical plan in July. Experts claim that linking programmes to affordability could bring prices DOWN in some of the plushest areas of the country as housing supply increases.
Mr Javid said he wanted to review the laws to ensure people already on the housing ladder didn’t take advantage of the shake-up to buy a second home.
And he said the Government would expect neighbouring authorities “with enough room” should step in if councils were constrained by green belt restrictions.
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Shadow Housing Minister John Healey accused his rival of “tinkering with the technicalities” of the planning system. And he demanded a greater mix in the type of homes being built – including homes for “affordable social rent”.
But Ray Boulger of mortgage experts John Charcol said the proposals were an “encouraging start”.
He told the Sun: “Everybody agrees we need more housing.
“The fact the Government has spent some time and effort on this is encouraging. But it’s very much a work in progress.”