Labour’s Cllr Nik Oakley, Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Transport, has welcomed the Government’s landmark announcement of a new social rent revolution – pledging to use it to help deliver new homes for local families.

The new national plan, unveiled today by Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, promises the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation. It sets out:

• A £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme to deliver around 300,000 homes, with at least 60% for social rent – that’s approximately 180,000 social rent homes, six times more than delivered in the last decade.
• A five-step plan to give long-term certainty and stability to the housing sector.
• Modernisation of the Decent Homes Standard, extended to the private rented sector for the first time.
• Introduction of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards in social housing.
• Protection of council housing stock through transformative reforms to Right to Buy.

Cllr Oakley said:

“Here in Hertsmere, we are determined to build the social and affordable homes we need to ensure that local families have a safe and secure place to call home. We’re already incredibly proud of the Lyndhurst Farm project on much-abused land that will deliver 100% affordable and social homes to rent or buy in Borehamwood. Today’s announcement from the Labour Government will help fire our ambition even further by concentrating delivering more homes on previously developed land.”

Hertsmere’s Labour-led Partnership Administration has already delivered planning consents for projects with 70-100% social and truly affordable housing – a landmark achievement that is now being looked at as a model for further schemes across the borough.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:

“We are seizing this golden opportunity with both hands to transform this country by building the social and affordable homes we need, so we create a brighter future where families aren’t trapped in temporary accommodation and young people are no longer locked out of a secure home.

“With investment and reform, this government is delivering the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, unleashing a social rent revolution, and embarking on a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing in this country.

“That’s why I am urging everyone in the social housing sector to step forward with us now to make this vision a reality, to work together to turn the tide on the housing crisis together and deliver the homes and living standards people deserve through our Plan for Change.”

This historic shift in housing policy is set to support councils and housing providers across the country to meet urgent local need – and in Hertsmere, it will help deliver on Labour’s promise to put genuinely affordable housing at the heart of local growth and regeneration.