North Tyneside Council is proud to stand with over 100 council landlords across England in a united call to secure the future of council housing.
This cross-party coalition, led by Southwark Council, presented five solutions for the government to ‘secure the future of England’s council housing’ after they warn that England’s council housing system is broken, and that urgent action is required.
The five solutions set out detailed and practical recommendations to the new government:
- A new fair and sustainable HRA model – including an urgent £644 million one-off rescue injection, and long-term, certain rent and debt agreements
- Reforms to unsustainable Right to Buy policies
- Removing red tape on existing funding
- A new, long-term Green & Decent Homes Programme
- Urgent action to restart stalled building projects, avoiding the loss of construction sector capacity and a market downturn
North Tyneside Council supports the report which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for renewing council housing over the next decade.
Peter Mennell, Director of Housing and Property Services at North Tyneside, said: “We’re very proud of the work we’re already doing to build more council homes, including our award-winning Husk schemes.
“But with rising numbers of residents on our waiting lists we want to be able to deliver even more homes for rent. That’s why we’re fully behind this important push to secure the future of Council housing.
“By teaming up with Councils across the country, we can push for changes that will allow us to build the council homes that our communities are crying out for.”
Developed with contributions from housing experts Toby Lloyd and Rose Grayston, the report highlights how an unsustainable financial model and inconsistent national policies have severely strained council housing budgets.
New analysis from Savills Housing Consultancy projects a £2.2 billion funding gap by 2028, highlighting the underscore of action.
Without swift intervention, most council landlords will struggle to maintain their existing homes, meet new improvement demands, or build new social housing.
Across the country, development projects are being cancelled or delayed, with huge implications for the local construction sector, jobs and housing market. Rather than increasing housing supply, some councils may be forced to sell off existing homes to finance the upkeep of a shrinking stock.
North Tyneside Council is committed to this ‘decade of renewal’, working in partnership with central government to stabilise Housing Revenue Accounts (HRAs), bring all homes up to modern and green standards, and deliver the next generation of council homes.
For more information, visit the Southwark Council website.