...To Release Land For Development
Mick Laws, managing director at Linden Homes Eastern comments:
To tackle the desperate shortage of housing across the country the Government must act quickly to accelerate the release of publicly-owned brownfield land.
It is encouraging to see the statement contains commitment to fund the accelerated release and de-risk public sector land. Hopefully this includes a commitment to resource the HCA to take centre stage in brokering land deals.
Ultimately, this would allow the HCA to use its platform of existing development partners to shorten the procurement process and ensure land releases are quickly translated into housing supply; a far more efficient system than the traditional route taken by Government Departments.
Local Authorities are the biggest owners of public land and unlocking sites would create thousands of new homes, as well jobs across the construction sector – providing a significant boost to the wider economy right across the country.
We would like to see a cross-departmental capital fund and a role for Local Economic Partnerships created which is centred around growth, employment and housing and used directly to incentivise local authorities to release public land for development.
Alongside these measures, we believe the Government and industry must continue to work together to educate buyers about the many different affordable mortgage options available to not only first time buyers but those with little or no equity within their homes.
Over the last 12 months we have worked with a range of high street lenders to bring a number of 85, 90 and 95 per cent deals to the market and we must continue to make people aware that owning a new home is more affordable than ever.
-ENDS-
For further information, contact Lyndsay Scanlan or Claire McCowan at Remarkable Public Relations on 01962 893 893 or email Lyndsay.scanlan@remarkablegroup.co.uk; Claire.mccowan@remarkablegroup.co.uk
