News

The LGA responds to the publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

“Councils want to turn the tide of rising homelessness. A genuine cross-departmental approach to tackling this crisis, as part of a long-term government strategy, is key with councils given the powers and resources needed to address the national shortage of affordable housing.”

Hotels have already begun to close to Afghan households across the country and - as we feared - councils are already seeing families presenting to them as homeless as a result.

Local government stands ready to work with national government on their detailed delivery plans to ensure practical solutions to these long-standing problems are found.

The roll-out of five-year local housing deals by 2025 would lead to 200,000 additional social homes being built over the span of 30 years, a new report by the Local Government Association says today.

“To tackle rising homelessness, the building of affordable homes must be prioritised."

“We urge the Government to stay the course and abolish Section 21 notices to provide renters greater security.”

The LGA is proposing reforms to the Right to Buy scheme in order to prevent the current net loss of much-needed social housing stock year on year currently being experienced by local authorities.

"We are calling on the Government to use the Budget to grant councils the flexibilities needed to resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes."

"The reality is that planning is not a barrier to house building. Nine in 10 planning applications are approved by councils despite significant resourcing and capacity issues across the country."