This in from Steve Turner from the Home Builders’ Federation, in his own words. Ed
Like much of the country, the Isle of Wight is experiencing an acute housing crisis.
Launching its Housing Manifesto, HBF today calls on all the prospective council candidates standing in May’s election to ensure housing is given priority.
On the Isle of Wight;
- In 2011/12 only 59% of the homes needed were built. There were 370 housing starts, whilst 625 new households were created
- Social housing waiting lists increased by 293% in the 10 years to 2012. There are currently 6,328 families on the waiting list
- It takes at least seven years for an average first-time buyer in the South East to save the necessary funds for a deposit
- Median house prices increased 95% in the 10 years from 2001 to 2011
- At least 200 extra local jobs could have been created from building enough homes to meet demand
- Building enough homes to meet household projections each year could mean annual New Homes Bonus payments of around £5.4 million.
The Isle of Wight is experiencing an acute housing crisis
Speaking today, as HBF launched its Housing Manifesto, Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman at the HBF said, “Across the country, housing is one of the main reasons why constituents contact their local council and councillors need to be taking a proactive approach to housing issues in their areas.
“Like many places, the Isle of Wight is experiencing an acute housing crisis. Delivering the homes needed is vital to the area’s social and economic wellbeing.
“Together, we all have responsibility for facing the housing crisis on the island, but the role of local politicians is vital if we are to deliver the homes the area needs.
“The council must work to create an environment within which more homes can be built. Doing so will deliver significant benefits, building the decent new homes the region needs will improve the lives of many, support strong communities and create desperately needed jobs and economic growth.”
Housing Manifesto
To ensure the homes get built that the area needs, HBF’s Housing Manifesto calls for candidates to;
- Commit to ensuring that the number of new homes being built is at the level required by the area’s population
- Work closely with the industry to develop a climate within which the industry can deliver the homes the area needs
- Work with all parties, including the Local Authority to identify and allocate sufficient suitable land for development to allow the homes that are needed to be built
- Work with the industry to cut through the bureaucracy that can stall many developments or stops developments all together
- Ensure the demands placed on house building sites are realistic and not so onerous that they prohibit development taking place
