HELEN PRESSES FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS
Helen is spearheading a new effort to change planning law to allow more affordable housing to be built in rural areas.
In the District of Teesdale there is a serious shortage of affordable housing for first-time buyers. This is a beautiful rural district with some of the housing problems often associated with similar areas in wealthier parts of the country, i.e. over provision for the wealthy and holiday lets and under provision for local families. One cause of this is a long-standing practice that planning permission for conversions of large properties and out buildings (barns etc) can be given for holiday lets, but not permanent homes.
Helen is now calling for this bias to be ended (or even reversed) so that conversions can be for new homes. This would increase the supply of affordable homes in rural areas in an environmentally sensitive way. Helen has tabled an Early Day Motion in the Commons with cross-party support to highlight the issue. Click here to see the latest level of support. She has also written to the Minister for Planning and Housing to press the case for change.
Filed under: Uncategorized on January 10th, 2006
