Member Article

Affordable homes must be a priority for planning authorities to curb housing crisis

Latest statistics reveal that the demand for rental properties in the UK outside of London has increased by 15% annually with monthly rents up by 4%.

While this is excellent news for landlords and property investors, the down side is that the actual supply of rental homes has dropped by 17% with six tenants chasing every available property.

As a property investor, I welcome the news that the rental market is buoyant, but I am concerned about the affordability factor for those seeking accommodation. There is also the danger that the short term investor will take advantage of the market’s conditions by providing sub-standard property and see it as quick way to make some money.

Together with the announcement by Halifax that house prices rose by more than 10% in the year to July, and suggestions that the Bank of England could potentially raise interest rates later this year, I fear potentially we could be facing another housing crisis.

It is quite plain that there is a shortage of housing in this country in both the private and rental sectors, so now is the time for action to stimulate house building in order to prevent a repeat situation of the 1990s crisis.

The main obstacle developers currently face is the planning process and the desire by councils to block developments instead of promoting them. With the publication of these latest figures, it is time for planning authorities to revisit their position on house building, stop rejecting proposals and deal with them in a timely manner.

From my experience, I have found that councils are very quick to give reasons why a development can’t go ahead, often suggesting that the focus is on commercial gain instead of quality housing.

This systemic negative viewpoint needs to change and councils need to stop mistrusting developers and look at the bigger picture which is to ensure that affordable housing can be built and a housing crisis prevented.

That’s why I welcome government proposals to allow new permitted development rights which will allow homes to be created in commercial buildings.

Should planning authorities make it easier for developers? Is the UK heading for another housing crisis?

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by VIDA Architecture .