3rd Report: Building more social housing
Select Committee
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
HC 173
27 July 2020
Government response
Building more social housing: Government response to the Select Committee Report · published 14 Oct 2020
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
5
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We agree with the Public Accounts Committee that the Government missed a crucial opportunity to...
Conclusion
We agree with the Public Accounts Committee that the Government missed a crucial opportunity to alleviate the housing crisis through its disposal of public land. While we understand the constraints around managing public money, it is nonetheless short-sighted to sell …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the housing shortage and its commitment to increasing home supply, outlining planning reforms and a new cross-government strategy to manage and release public land for better use, including home building.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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6
Recommendation
Acknowledged
The Government’s public land disposal strategy needs a wholesale re-design, not more of the same.
Recommendation
The Government’s public land disposal strategy needs a wholesale re-design, not more of the same. We recommend the Government thinks less about disposal, and more about assembly. Homes England should take a central role in co-ordinating public land to be …
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Government Response Summary
The government outlines its efforts to increase overall housing delivery through planning reforms and a new cross-Government strategy for public sector land release, but does not commit to Homes England taking a central role in coordinating land specifically for social housing or to reforming the Land Compensation Act 1961 as recommended.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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15
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 92
We estimate that land value reform could reduce the cost of the programme by up...
Conclusion
We estimate that land value reform could reduce the cost of the programme by up to 40 per cent. By building more social housing on Government-owned public land, the overall cost of the programme could be further reduced. Some of …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the need to increase housing supply and outlined its commitment to a £12bn investment in affordable housing, including a new £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme to deliver up to 180,000 homes, with half designated for Affordable and Social Rent.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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18
Recommendation
Acknowledged
Para 103
Permitted development rights can be a route to provide fast and cost-effective housing, but given...
Recommendation
Permitted development rights can be a route to provide fast and cost-effective housing, but given that the Government is aware of concerns around their use, it should publish its review as soon as possible. We remain concerned about the lack …
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Government Response Summary
While the government states 'Accept' and acknowledges concerns regarding permitted development rights (PDRs), it only states that it is 'considering the findings of the review' and carefully reviewing PDRs as part of wider planning reforms, without committing to publishing the review as soon as possible.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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20
Conclusion
Acknowledged
We are mindful that the Government expects to implement substantial changes to the planning system...
Conclusion
We are mindful that the Government expects to implement substantial changes to the planning system in the near future. We will continue to monitor the impact of these changes on social housing supply, as well as scrutinising the reforms more …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it 'accepts' the observation, recognising concerns around permitted development rights and confirming it will continue to monitor their impact as part of wider planning reforms.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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