'We need a radical re-think': Wolverhampton Council accused of failing to tackle the city's housing shortage as a report shows how many new homes have been built
Conservatives have accused Wolverhampton Council of failing to address the city's housing shortage in the wake of a report which said just 220 new homes were built last year.
Councillor Paul Appleby said the authority had no credible plan to tackle the housing crisis in the city, leaving families struggling to find somewhere to live.
But Wolverhampton Council leader Councillor Stephen Simkins hit back, saying that Wolverhampton was leading the way nationally when it came to redeveloping brownfield land for housing.
The comments follow a study by Skitts estate agency, which said that out of 114,442 homes across the city, just 220 were built in the last year – equating to a rate of 1.92 homes per 1,000 existing properties, far below the level required to ease housing pressures.
The Skitts survey found that of these, 59 per cent were built by private developers, and 41 per cent by the local council.
But none were built by housing associations.
The Skitts report said: "As a percentage of builds, while private developers dominate the market, the contribution from the local authority has been modest.
"However, the overall contribution is frankly quite disappointing. This is a critical point: without a greater push from the public sector, especially our local authority, the affordable housing shortfall will persist."
Councillor Paul Appleby, who sits on the Wolverhampton Homes board, said building 220 homes in an entire year was nowhere near good enough.
"Families in Wolverhampton are crying out for affordable, quality homes, yet the council continues to fail them.
"The complete absence of housing association involvement and the limited delivery from the council is unacceptable. We need a radical rethink – more ambition, more partnerships, and a proper strategy to meet demand.”
He said the Conservatives were calling on the council to urgently increase housing delivery, prioritise affordability, and work with housing associations and private developers to ensure Wolverhampton residents have access to the homes they need.
But Councillor Simkins replied “While the Wolverhampton Conservative group waste time talking our great city down, we are getting on with the job of building it up.
"We’ve already delivered over 600 new homes through WV Living, with 550 more on the way over the next five years and we’re unlocking brownfield land to deliver the affordable homes local families need.
"Wolverhampton is leading the way nationally."
Councillor Simkins said the council had been chosen by Homes England as the first local authority in the country as a trial for the new Affordable Homes Programme.
"That’s another £19.7 million of funding this Labour council will be pumping into the city to deliver quality, affordable homes that meet local needs of our residents."
Councillor Simkins added that the Government was driving the biggest investment in affordable housing in 50 years,, with a pledge to build 1.5 million homes during the course of the parliament.
He said it was investing £39 billion through its Affordable Homes Plan, while the new National Housing Bank would unlock £53 billion private investment.
"Put simply, this Labour government is delivering the biggest boost to affordable housing in a generation,” he said.
Cabinet member for housing, Councillor Steve Evans added: “To help speed up the delivery of more homes for local people, the council has set up a housing development framework, supported by £109 million from the housing revenue account budget - with further provision allowed for within the 30-year business plan.
"This means we can deliver schemes like phase two of Heath Town regeneration which will deliver up to 120 new council homes across five sites, expected to start in winter 2025/26," he said.
Councillor Evans said the council was working with private sector partners on schemes such as Canalside South, Smithgate, St George’s, The Royal Quarter and the former Sunbeam works in Blakenhall.
"We’re regenerating neglected brownfield sites that will see the delivery of 6,500 new homes," he said.
He added that the council was seeking to improve 4,100 properties made using 'non-traditional' methods, such as those made out of prefabricated concrete.
