28th May 2007

Gordon Brown's plan for 100,000 new environmentally friendly homes across the UK will still have a devastating impact on our environment.

In England alone, there are 700,000 empty homes. Greens want better use of empty privately owned property. Local authorities must be empowered to use Empty Property Use Orders, in appropriate cases with safeguards and rights of appeal (i). This would mean priority to the improvement of existing properties before new house building is considered.

It is also crucial that the government look at provision of social housing. In 1990, 13,000 local authority dwellings were completed, but in 2004/5 this figure was just 100 (ii). The recent Barker review recommended 23,000 social homes a year should be built while Shelter estimates 48,000 are needed yearly (iii).

Brown must ensure that any new build starts with provision for those who need it most. What proportion of eco- town homes will go to the 100,000 homeless households currently living in temporary accommodation?

Housing policy should be fully integrated with other policies to build more sustainable, self-reliant communities. The provision of housing should be coordinated with developments to provide work, leisure, education and health care, and innovative ecological housing should be the standard for all, not just a few.

Phil Blomberg, Rodborough,

Stroud District Green party


Notes:

(i) http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1156546
Please download the first available download: HSSA 2005: Sections A-G (Excel 778 Kb) Please see column AM, hsa7af

(ii) http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/resources/DCHpamphlet2006.pdf, p12

(iii) http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/resources/DCHpamphlet2006.pdf, page 14