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‘Relax planning laws to tackle overcrowding crisis in housing’
It’s time for fewer reports and more new homes, says Labour group leader
OVERCROWDING in Westminster council houses can only be remedied by an “overhaul of current legislation”, a report commissioned by council housing chiefs has claimed.
The Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) says local authorities must be set free from the “stranglehold” of central government if they are going to tackle overcrowding and build more social housing.
Last week the West End Extra reported that there are almost 1,000 families in the borough living in severely claustrophobic conditions, with some so short of space they are forced to sleep in their kitchens and living rooms.
The figure makes Westminster the second most overcrowded borough in the capital.
While the council says government controlled planning laws should be relaxed to enable them to build more housing, opposition leaders in City Hall say they are just spreading the blame and the council should put more pressure on developers to build affordable homes.
The LGIU report concluded that councils could tackle overcrowding if planning obligations were reviewed.
Other recommendations are no less controversial. They include:
l extending the local connection rule to up to two years, making it harder to establish a local connection;
l giving councils freedom to offer different types of tenancy, alongside traditional permanent tenancy;
l using more private sector finance for social housing.
The council’s cabinet member for housing Philippa Roe said: “Overcrowding is one of the biggest issues facing the housing sector and to really tackle it we need broader reform. This report presents an important step in making the case for change that is much needed to allow local authorities like Westminster to best meet the needs of their residents.
“To do this there has to be an overhaul of the current legislation with the government’s temporary accommodation target being removed, appropriate reforms to council finance pushed through and a serious rethink of the local connection rule, which severely inhibits the speed at which help can be given to overcrowded families on waiting lists.
“There is room to move but we must act swiftly so the distressing plight of families who live in overcrowded homes does not continue any longer.”
Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group said: “Westminster Conservatives … are good at commissioning reports that blame everyone but themselves for the massive overcrowding problems that residents face. It is time for fewer reports and more new homes.
“Westminster can make a start by requiring more new on-site homes in new developments all over Westminster, rather than simply pocketing the money.” |
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