Affordable Housing In The South West

EDM number 1591 in 2002-03, proposed by Julia Drown on 15/07/2003.

That this House asks the Government to recognise the real need for affordable social housing in the South West region in the light of new and striking evidence from the National Housing Federation that provision is running at less than one third of the Regional Planning Guidance minimum target; notes that priority homelessness acceptances in the region have increased by 28 per cent. since 1998 and use of temporary accommodation in the region has increased by over 70 per cent.; further notes that local authority lettings have fallen by 17 per cent. and that house prices have doubled in five years; and calls upon the Government substantially to increase investment in affordable social housing in the South West region as soon as possible to allow councils and housing associations to begin meeting housing needs more effectively, to promote the long-term health of the regional economy and to give planning authorities more powers to insist on higher proportions of affordable housing in new developments.

This motion has been signed by a total of 24 MPs.