The Housing & Finance Institute (HFi) have published a new
research report which calls for "regional local councils" in
Britain's coastal communities, the country villages and market
towns, post-industrial heartlands and the historic cities and
counties of England to be exempt from the proposed Housing &
Planning Act High-Value Asset (HVA) Levy and to retain the proceeds
of any higher value housing they sell - but only where there is a
track record of housing delivery or a clear deliverable plan for
new homes within 4 years.
The research report:
"From the Shores to the Shires - Regional Local Councils, Big
Housing Opportunities" highlights that housebuilding is
dominated by the big cities and bustling metropolitan areas. But it
isn't. Building, and opportunity to build, is dominated by
Britain's coastal communities, the country villages and market
towns, post-industrial heartlands and the historic cities and
counties of England.
This new research demonstrates that regional local councils in
these areas have been the beating heart delivering new homes for
our country but these regional local councils do not have the
attention, full powers, funding and support from central government
which is enjoyed by the Capital and Metropolitan areas.
The HFi report argues that a re-balancing of housing policy is
necessary to better support local regional councils and puts
forward a five point plan to achieve this by:
- Allowing local councils to keep the cash from any high-value
houses they sell, provided there is a track record of housing
delivery or a clear deliverable plan for new homes within four
years.
- Allowing regional local councils to be exempted from the
high-value assets levy, provided there is a track record of housing
delivery or a clear deliverable plan for new homes within four
years.
- Giving extra cash allocations and financial support to regional
local councils if they can show they can and will deliver more
homes and growth. 'Devo for Districts' should be allowed for
councils with a track record who could benefit from some of the
freedoms and flexibilities which have been given to urban
centres.
- Pinpointing key areas of housing opportunity in regional local
councils which can be translated into more homes, faster. Providing
additional support for infrastructure funding to realise these
homes sooner, including for new water supply and other utilities
funding.
- Funding capacity building with the HFi "Housing Business Ready"
programme to help councils in the practical work needed to
implement good business skills, improve monitoring and business
resilience and drive through housing delivery.
Details of the research report can be found on the HFi website.