NHF Chair questions minister about new affordable homes programme

08 September 2020

Today, NHF Chair Baroness Diana Warwick of Undercliffe questioned Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) Lord Greenhalgh about the new affordable homes programme.

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Transcript

Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe: "My Lords, today’s commitment to social rent as part of the new affordable homes programme is welcome, as is the Government’s housebuilding ambition of 300,000 new homes per annum. However, that is a level that the private builders have never achieved since World War II, while investment in social housing could create a countercyclical boost for the construction sector. The Minister seems to have recognised that in the announcement today, but it contains some untested and risky policies. Can the Minister assure the House that his department will take steps to ensure that these policies do not slow down the Government’s housebuilding plans at a time when they are most needed to provide new homes for lower earners and key workers?"

Lord Greenhalgh: "My Lords, I can assure the House that all the new policies that have been announced recently, including permitted development rights, will be kept under review, and we will see what impact that has on housing supply."
 
Transcript courtesy of Hansard.