THE LEADER of Malvern Hills District Council has told the Observer the authority had no intention of building its own homes.
We approached Coun David Chambers after the Liberal Democrat Party Conference where leader Vince Cable called on the Government to enable councils to borrow funds to build affordable homes.
Elsewhere in the county, Wychavon District Council has recently announced plans to launch a local housing company and is now exploring business cases for future developments.
Redditch Borough Council already builds its own properties and Bromsgrove District Council has revealed it is considering the idea.
But Coun Chambers told the Observer Malvern Hills District Council would be delivering what it could under its Five Year Plan with housing developers rather than focusing on ‘what a future Government may or may not do’.
“We recognise the importance of ensuring people are able to access the housing market and indeed our residents consistently tell us it is one of their priorities,” he said.
“That’s why in our Five Year Plan we committed to delivering 400 new affordable homes and bring 250 homes back into use across the district by 2020 and we are on track to do that.
“We also have an important role in ensuring the planning system supports the provision of new homes to meet demand and I’m pleased to say more homes are being built in the Malvern Hills district than at any point during the last ten years.”
According to statistics, the average wage across the Malvern Hills is £26,395.56 and the average property is worth £262,052.
Figures from the Yorkshire Building Society also reveal the ‘housing multiplier’ – the average salary a person earns compared to the amount they can borrow to buy an averaged priced property – was ‘times 9.7’, one of the highest in the West Midlands.
Although Coun Chambers admitted there was a need to do more to provide affordable housing, he remained coy on any future plans the district council may have to achieve that.
“We are exploring other options but it is too early to comment publicly on what those may be,” he added.
*What do you think? Should Malvern Hills District Council join other authorities in building their own council housing? Or do you have other ideas which you feel should be implemented to combat the affordable housing crisis facing the town? Email [email protected] with your views.
