Financing the new housing supply

Written submission from David Holliday

Financing of New Housing Supply

If Housing Act 1985 Part X Overcrowding is repealed there will be a need for an additional 600,000 dwellings on the adoption of Housing Act 2004 Part 1 " crowding and space , bedroom standard " .

This figure has been with me for a few years .

Few people would argue that statutory overcrowding provisions need revision now that overcrowded dwellings are so prevalent .

I do not intend to add opinion to financing new housing ; formerly slum clearance schemes released land for development . Criteria like : having a WC entered externally from the house are no use now , but terraces of urban houses with less than 4 storeys could be fair game for clearance , and development involving 6 storey properties .

I don`t want to see this , I`m 60 years old .

Local planning authority should be able to retain some of the original housing , though often more than 100 years old , still tenable .

Housing Health and Safety Rating System ( Version 2 ) provides a précis of crowding and space .

October 2011