The NFA’s 2015 election manifesto calls for all political parties to allow further investment in building new council properties, to help meet the rising demand for decent social housing across the country.
It supports earlier calls by the NFA, which represents 47 not for profit housing organisations across England, for £7bn to be invested over 5 years, to enable 60,000 new homes to be built.
Market analysis demonstrates these proposals would not impact on the government’s fiscal consolidation plans, and would deliver an economic boost to communities; generating 0.6 per cent growth in GDP and ensuring that for every £1 spent, 92p would be retained in the UK and 56p would be directly return to the Exchequer in terms of taxes paid and savings on benefits.
NFA policy director, Chloe Fletcher, said the organisation will continue to campaign for greater financial freedoms in light of Housing Review.
Ms Fletcher said:
“The government now acknowledges what we have stated for some time, that not enough action is being taken to address the severe shortage of affordable housing.
We hope this review will go some way towards identifying the opportunities that a newly self-financed council housing sector has to build new homes and meet the needs of local residents for affordable homes. The NFA will continue to campaign for greater financial freedom for local authorities and councils.”
