The UK is currently grappling with an escalating housing crisis that has left over a million households on council waiting lists. Property prices are soaring, with the average home for sale in England now costing more than 8 times the annual average household earnings. This, coupled with a severe shortage of affordable social housing, means that people are increasingly living in poor conditions and grappling with financial hardship due to high rent costs.
In response, The Green Party has laid out a series of ambitious policy pledges aimed at tackling this crisis head-on. Co-leader Carla Denyer, who is standing as MP candidate in Bristol Central, has highlighted an urgent need for a transformative approach to housing in the UK. “Councils have a vital role to play but they need a framework that supports them to provide the homes that people desperately need”, says Denyer. The Green Party pledge to provide this supportive framework by introducing policies that will make hundreds of thousands of council homes available, alongside securing a fair deal for those renting in the private sector.
Policies that The Green Party would introduce to tackle the housing crisis include:
Requiring a full planning application or inclusion in a local development order for the demolition of buildings.
Ending no-fault evictions.
Reducing the environmental impact of new construction by requiring local authorities to spread development cross their area in small scales.
Empowering local authorities to repurpose empty homes.
Allocating funds to councils to address their requirements for affordable social housing in addition to relaxing the restrictive borrowing regulations for council-led housebuilding, ensuring that at least 150,000 additional council homes are made available each year through a combination of new construction, refurbishments, conversions, and the acquisition of existing homes.
Terminating the Right to Buy scheme, thus allowing local authorities to retain council homes within the community, maintaining their availability and affordability permanently.
Advocating for tenants to have the right to require their landlords to secure property-linked finance for property improvements.
Introducing a ‘Fairer, Greener Homes Guarantee’ to ensure warm, safe homes that are well insulated.
Regulating the private rental market through the implementation of rent controls in areas with inflated rental prices to ensure fair rents.
Dedicating £7 billion over the next five years to modifying homes to prevent overheating during hotter summers.
Urging Ministers to ensure all social housing is upgraded and maintained to a decent standard, with fair funding for Councils and Housing Associations to achieve this.
Establishing Private Residential Tenancy Boards to provide an informal, low-cost, and speedy platform for resolving disputes before they reach a tribunal. Fund local authorities to fulfill a new statutory duty of tenancy relations.
Encouraging local planning decisions to be informed by a land use planning policy framework that balances various needs.
Changing the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard to EPC C.
Establishing a ‘community right to buy’, which grants councils, housing associations, and community housing groups the first opportunity to purchase certain properties that enter the market, including former social housing previously sold under Right to Buy; properties requiring energy efficiency upgrades; and any property that has remained vacant for an extended period.
Allocating £29 billion over the next five years to upgrade homes to EPC B standard or higher, as part of a decade-long initiative. £12 billion will be allocated for retrofitting social housing, and £17 billion will be provided as grants to upgrade privately owned homes to similar standards.
These policy pledges come alongside Co-leader Adrian Ramsay highlighting the importance of not just increasing the quantity of affordable housing, but also improving the quality. "Our housing crisis is not just one of supply, but also of quality, with homes often built for developer profits rather than community needs" Ramsay pointed out. The Green Party's Right Homes, Right Place, Right Price charter seeks to overhaul the planning system, ensuring new homes are built to high environmental standards and come with investments in local services, such as additional schools, GP places, and improved infrastructure for public transport, walking, and cycling.
In the context of London’s housing costs, Deputy Leader and Green London Assembly member Zack Polanski emphasised the need for a 'Living Rent,' where median rents would not exceed 35% of local median take-home pay. He called for rent control powers and a two-year rent freeze to alleviate the financial burden on residents, particularly key workers who are being pushed into fuel or food poverty due to high housing costs. Polanski also proposed establishing a Rent Commission to explore ways to reduce private rents and ensure fair living conditions for all Londoners.
These comprehensive policy pledges by the Green Party aim to address the multifaceted housing crisis in the UK, offering a holistic approach that combines increased housing supply, improved housing quality, and fair treatment for renters. As the Green Party continues to advocate for these changes, they call for a collective effort to transform housing policy and secure a fairer, more sustainable future for all.
We at Bluestone Planning invite you to share your opinions and insights on the Green Party’s Right Homes, Right Place, Right Price Charter. What are your thoughts on establishing a community right to buy? Do you think terminating the Right to Buy scheme will effectively address the shortage of affordable housing?
We welcome your comments below and encourage you to subscribe for more information on how each party’s proposals could impact future planning and development projects.
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