As expected, Miliband announced that, if elected in 2015, a future Labour Government would build 200,000 new houses a year by 2020 (the end of the next Parliament), pledging a new generation of new towns and 'garden cities' for the UK.
In his speech, Mr Miliband also stated that private developers who sit on 'land banks' would face a 'use it or lose it' law. According to reports, this policy would give local authorities the right to impose fees as an incentive to developers to build on sites with planning permission. This would be complimented by new compulsory purchase powers, to use as a last resort if developers continue to not use the land.
In his call to action, Mr. Miliband was keen to stress the importance of housing standards in his speech, with the final line being of particular interest to those in the industry:
"And to win that race to the top we've got to call a halt to the race to the bottom, between workers already here and workers coming here. I'm the son of two immigrant parents. I'm proud of the welcome Britain gave me and my family, and we've always welcomed people who work, contribute and are part of our community.
Let me say this, if people want a party that will cut itself off from the rest of the world, then let me say squarely: Labour is not your party. But if people want a party that will set the right rules for working people then Labour is your party, the only party that will do it. Employers not paying the minimum wage and government turning a blind eye - it's a race to the bottom; not under my government.
Recruitment agencies hiring only from overseas - it's a race to the bottom; not under my government. Shady gang masters exploiting people in industries from constructing to food processing - it's a race to the bottom; not under my government. Rogue landlords, putting 15 people in tied housing - it's a race to the bottom; not under my government."
Industry responces to Ed Miliband's keynote conference speech
NHF
NHF Chief Executive David Orr said:
"Ed Miliband's commitment to boost the number of homes is greatly welcome. An ambitious, comprehensive house building strategy is what we have been calling for, and something that this country has desperately needed for decades to drag us out of our current housing crisis.
Building more homes will stop house prices and rents spiralling out of control. Families will be able to live in homes that are more affordable, giving them a better standard of living. Young adults will be able to live independently without getting themselves into incredible amounts of debt. And it will ease the fears of older people wondering how they'll be able to pay for a home that suits their needs when they retire.
Whichever government is in power needs to be bold, and develop new towns and join up land acquisition, finance, infrastructure and housing delivery to transform the housing market into one that truly serves Britain's people and communities.
Local councils know what their communities need, so it's right to put them at the centre of driving housing supply. Housing associations around the country can play a central role as key partners to both local and national government in making this vision a reality."
NLA
NLA Chief Executive Richard Lambert said:
"Landlord registration has been mooted several times in recent years. However, no proponent of a statutory register has clearly identified the objectives which registration will achieve.
Almost one in five households in the UK lives in a privately rented home. Given this dramatic increase in responsibility which now rests with private landlords it is inevitable that more questions will be asked of their professionalism. However, the NLA believes that these discussions must also ask supporters of landlord registration to consider their answers to some important questions:
- How would a future Labour government achieve full compliance considering the register of Scottish landlords has only achieved 75 per cent compliance six years since its launch?
- What will a register achieve that can't be achieved with existing enforcement powers?
- What is the benefit of registration to the responsible, law abiding landlords?
- How would a Labour government ensure that the cost of registration to landlords would not end up increasing the cost of living for tenants?"
TCPA
TCPA Chief Executive Kate Henderson said:
"The TCPA strongly welcomes Ed Miliband's recognition of our deepening housing supply crisis and worsening affordability with a Labour Party commitment to support new Garden Cities as part of the solution.
A new generation of Garden Cities is long overdue. The TCPA has been running a re-invigorated Garden City campaign for the last two years, making the case for how large scale housing development can be highly successful, such as in Welwyn and Letchworth Garden Cities. Many of the Garden City ideals remain of critical relevance today, providing a foundation and an economy of scale for high quality, attractive and inclusive places, creating new jobs and truly sustainable lifestyles.
The Garden Cities were fired by a sense of idealism and enthusiasm, with numerous voluntary organisations. Today, we can go further, placing local people at the heart of the process from the outset in order to shape our new communities and put in place long term community governance models."
FMB
FMB Chief Executive Brian Berry said:
"It is smaller settlements across villages, towns and cities that are needed to tackle the housing crisis and it is SMEs that are needed to deliver this. Without the involvement of more SME house builders, there will not be enough capacity in the sector to deliver all of the new homes that are so badly needed.
The problems with access to finance have not gone away for SME house builders, which is why we would like to see the Labour Party include a new finance vehicle to help house builders in their housing policy package."
{C}Karen Cooksley, a partner and planning law expert at law firm Winckworth Sherwood said:
“Successive governments have tried and failed to force the public sector to release land for housing. Forcibly taking land off housebuilders into the public sector will undoubtedly face legal challenges.
Ed Miliband would be far better focusing his attention on making local authorities and other public sector organisations release land they hold for new homes as government has more direct control over them. He could start by making sure central government departments are first in line.
Karen adds:
“Home ownership is also not the only solution to solving our housing need. There is a real need to increase the size of the private rented sector in the UK on an enormous scale as not everyone wants or can afford to own a home. There is an appetite from new and institutional investors.
These proposals are largely a repetition of existing – Coalition Government – policy. It is time for genuinely new thinking if inroads are to be made into our rising housing need.”
source: NAEA
