West Midlands Mayor welcomes Government's £39 billion affordable homes plans as 13,620 children live in temporary accommodation in the region
Government plans to pump billions into new housing and get families out of poor accommodation have been welcomed in the West Midlands.
Mayor Richard Parker said Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Affordable Homes Programme was what was needed to provide much-needed homes for thousands of people in the region.
As part of the Spending Review the Chancellor is expected to confirm £39 billion for a new Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years.
This is aimed at turbo-charging the Government’s Plan for Change commitment and deliver 1.5 million homes across the country.
Mr Parker has committed himself to building 20,000 new social homes over the next decade in an effort to fix the affordable housing crisis in the region.
Figures show the number of West Midlands households living in temporary accommodation is now at 6,823, including 13,620 children.
More than 60,000 people across the region are currently on housing waiting lists.
The Mayor said, in his first year in office, he has funded the unlocking of more than 500 new social houses.
Developments include a £1.7 million funding deal to go towards the Port Loop ‘island community’ scheme in Edgbaston.
The whole programme will see the construction of 124 social and affordable homes on the five acres of derelict land.
Another includes a residential tower scheme in Digbeth, Birmingham which will see 55 per cent of the new properties classed as affordable with 141 being social homes for rent and 127 for shared ownership.
Mr Parker said: “This is the kind of long-term, serious investment we’ve needed for years and it’s exactly what I’ve been calling for since becoming Mayor.
“People across the West Midlands have been stuck on waiting lists, priced out of their communities or left in poor-quality temporary housing for far too long.
“This announcement is fantastic – it’s a big step in the right direction. A ten-year Affordable Homes Programme means we can plan properly, build at scale and finally tackle the housing crisis that’s been holding our region back.
“I’ll be working with Government to quickly get these funds into the West Midlands so we can get on with the job.
“I want to work with government, housing associations and local councils to make sure this investment delivers the social homes we need, in the places people want to live, with the infrastructure and services to match.”
