SOUTH WEST HOUSING

Motion Text

That this House, in the light of new and striking evidence from the National Housing Federation and the Barker Report on housing supply, draws the Government's attention to the dire state of affordable social housing supply in the South West region, which is running at less than half of the regional planning guidance minimum target each year; notes that priority homelessness acceptances in the region have increased by 43 per cent. since 1999 and housing waiting lists by 16 per cent. in the last year alone; understands that local authority lettings have fallen by 19 per cent. and house prices nearly doubled in the last four years; and calls on the Government substantially to increase investment in affordable social housing in the South West region as a matter of urgency, to allow councils and housing associations to begin effectively meeting housing needs and promoting the long-term health of the regional economy.