Give local authorities the power to make sure new homes are affordable, MP asks minister

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron asked the Housing and Planning Minister Rachel Maclean to give local councils and national park authorities the power to increase the number of affordable homes in Cumbria.

In October, Tim put down an amendment to the Government's Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which would have given local authorities the power to ensure that all new housing is affordable.

However the amendment was narrowly defeated by 8 votes to 5, with every Conservative member of the Levelling Up Bill committee voting against.

Tim said: "In Westmorland and Lonsdale, average house prices are 12 times average household incomes.

"And so the danger we have is when we see houses developed, we are meeting demand, but not meeting need.

"Isn't it right that the Government gives us far greater planning controls so that we can ensure that we don't see 100 homes built, most of which are a waste of bricks going into the second home market and instead ensure that they are affordable homes socially rented for local families."

Responding, the Housing and Planning Minister Rachel Maclean said: "Local authorities have a huge amount of freedom.

"They've been given the tools by this government through legislation, through developer contribution powers and through Homes England grants to deliver affordable homes.

"But he will also know the wider work that we're doing on second homes for local authorities to be able to raise council tax.

"So I hope he can see that the direction of travel is going to help alleviate some of the pressures that he's highlighted."