50 per cent affordable housing policy ‘has failed’ (From York Press)

50 per cent affordable housing policy ‘has failed’

10:13am Monday 8th February 2010 in

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THE long-held view of many, that City of York Council’s 50 per cent affordable housing policy has been an unmitigated disaster, has at last been confirmed.

Within the draft York and North Yorkshire sub-regional housing strategy, just released for consultation, is a table (on page 17) of affordable housing completions for the four years from 2004-8 for ten local authority areas.

For the first two years, York’s completions of 195 and 148 were the highest, over double the nearest council.

Then, after the 50 per cent policy came into force, York’s completions fell dramatically, by two-thirds to 56 and 51 for the 2006-8 period – the worst decline of all the councils. During the same period, seven councils increased their completions; five of them by between 100 to 200 per cent. This showed that the overall trend was an increase – but not, it seems, in York.

We are always being reminded by certain councillors that York has a massive need for affordable housing and that they are doing their utmost to provide these. Well, judging from their performance compared with our neighbouring councils, it is clear that their efforts are failing spectacularly.

They cannot blame the recession, because the figures reported are for periods prior to this. It is clear that their 50 per cent policy has failed and will continue to fail. It is time that Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing admits it, and apologises for her misplaced loyalty and poor judgement in supporting the policy.

I would urge the council to ensure that the policy is dramatically lowered, otherwise York will continue to lose much-needed affordable housing.

Paul S Cordock, Durlston Drive, Strensall, York.

• A RECENT letter in The Press said that the Government’s promise to build three million houses had been reduced to a quarter of a million.

Now, the National Audit Office states that a Government scheme to upgrade social housing is to take eight years longer than planned, and will cost twice as much to do.

A ministry spokesman has claimed this to be a success. I hate to think what they would describe as a failure.

Anne-Marie Caldwell, Kings Road, Harrogate.