Independent housing experts have broken cover to criticise the Government’s extreme Housing and Planning Bill - John Healey

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing and Planning, commenting on the final report of the IPPR’s London Housing Commission said:   

“With this report yet another group of independent housing experts have broken cover to criticise the Government’s extreme Housing and Planning Bill.  

“The Commission rightly say that starter homes selling for up to £450,000 will be unaffordable to first-time buyers. They echo Labour’s proposals that these homes should not be built against the wishes of local councils at the expense of affordable homes to rent and buy, and that any discount should be made permanent to protect the public investment and benefit future first-time buyers.

“The Commission also raise the damage the Chancellor’s extraordinary forced sale of council homes will do. They are right to say that receipts from the sale of council homes must be retained by councils to replace any homes sold on a like-for-like basis, in the local area.

“The Government must now listen to the widespread criticism of its damaging Housing Bill and re-think it’s extreme housing plans.

“This report is also further evidence that London desperately needs a Labour Mayor in Sadiq Khan who understands London’s housing crisis and has a plan to get to grips with it.”