Bracknell's Housing Crisis (Bracknell Liberal Democrats)

Bracknell Liberal Democrats <info@bracknelllibdems.org.uk>

Bracknell's Housing Crisis

November 24, 2011 11:21 AM

The housing measures being introduced by the Coalition Government to help first-time buyers and persuade local authorities to provide more council homes is both very welcome and long overdue.

The record of Bracknell Forest Council in helping to provide more affordable homes in this area has been pitiful.There are still over 3000 people on its housing waiting list and yet only a handful of affordable homes are being built.

None of the measures announced will,in themselves, alleviate the present housing crisis completely but they will put the onus on local authorities and housing associations to do more. Bracknell Forest Council should take full advantage of these new measures immediately.

House prices have more than doubled in Bracknell Forest in recent years and assuming mortgages are available, first time buyers now need a household income of £40,000 a year just to buy a flat or maisonette. The average age of a first-time buyer without financial assistance has risen to almost 40!

The council has admitted in the past that it may only be able to assist one in every ten households who are registered for an affordable rented home. This simply isn't good enough and the sooner the council makes a more serious and sustained attempt to bring supply more into line with demand the better.

Ray Earwicker

Bracknell Liberal Democrats