The new UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged that increasing the amount of affordable housing will be a prime target of the UK government.
Affordable housing has become an important political issue, in recent years. It stems from the rapid rise in house prices, making it increasingly difficult for first time buyers to get on the property ladder. Affordable housing is often targetted at certain key workers in the public sector. However, there are concerns that some low paid workers, not in these key public sectors will loose out.
Difficulties in making affordable Housing a reality
Many ministers and politicians have agreed on the importance of more affordable housing; however, to make this a reality is not as easy as they would like us to believe.
1. Local Authorities.
Planning permission for most housing plans are still under the discretion of local authorities. Therefore, they are in a position to block new housing schemes.
2. Scale of the problem.
At the moment new housing is been built on a small scale. To adress the balance it will require a huge investment in building new housing
3. Difficulty of finding space in the South of England
There is already a shortage of land in certain areas. It is not easy to find land in the south of England that is OK to build on.
4. Time Delays
The process of applying for planning permission, getting it approved and then building houses is very time consuming. The government may need to find a new procedure to cut red tape
Understanding the affordable housing situation in the UK at BBC
