5m people 'stuck on social housing waiting lists'
Date posted: 19 May 2010
As many as five million people in the UK are still waiting to be provided with social housing, an FMB expert has noted.
Published by Alison Gamble.
A large number of the UK's residents are still stuck on social housing waiting lists, it has been highlighted.
According to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) director general Richard Diment, as many as five million people may currently be in this position.
The demand for social housing is just one issue that the expert believes the country's new housing minister Grant Shapps will need to address in the near future.
He added: "He has got a massive job without any stretch of the imagination.
"New house building is at a 70 or 80 year low [and] we have got a growing problem of inadequate housing."
Mr Diment has expressed some dismay that the position of UK housing minister is still not a cabinet-level role.
Meanwhile, housing charity Shelter has also recently suggested that the coalition government will need to get to grips with the country's housing problems in the coming months.
Elizabeth Deyong, head of social housing at Taylor Vinters, commented: "Now at last with the election behind us the social housing sector can set its shoulder to the wheel again to deliver on these ambitious targets.
"They will continue to need government support but are also looking at a range of innovative funding solutions to meet what is now a critical shortage of stock."
Amy Richardson, who leads our planning team, added: "Unlocking development and bringing forward housing must be made a priority for our new government. Drastic changes to the planning system would not be welcome; for too long there has been disparity between the expectations of developers, landowners and local planning authorities and this needs to be dealt with.
"Developers are currently struggling with the viability of sites and if there is such a huge shortfall in social housing then more needs to be done to ensure there is both sufficient funding and scope to allow developers to build out sites that can contain sufficient levels of affordable housing."
For further information please contact Elizabeth on 01223 225185 or email her at elizabeth.deyong@taylorvinters.com
Click here to email or call on 0207 382 8060.
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