WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols MP has welcomed £39 billion of Government funding for 1.5 million new social and affordable homes across the UK.
The UK is facing a housing crisis. In the final year of the previous Government, 150,000 children were in temporary accommodation and nearly 1.3 million households on social housing waiting lists nationally.
According to Under One Roof, who administer Warrington’s housing allocations, there are currently over 8000 applicants on the waiting list to be rehoused in the Borough. Of these, over 600 applicants are in urgent need of rehousing.
Furthermore, under-30s today are less than half as likely to own their own home as in the 1990s. Rents have increased 8.6% in the last year and total homelessness is at record levels.
Building more affordable homes and homes for social rent will go a long way to help people get on the housing ladder and reduce waiting lists.
Following this week’s Spending Review announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves Charlotte said: “Since I was elected in 2019, hundreds of my constituents have written to me to report living in sub-standard homes, overcrowded properties or to report that they have nowhere to live at all.
“During the 14 years of Conservative Government, they did not invest enough in social homes, but people still need them. As a result, waiting lists have only increased, with some people waiting years to be offered a suitable home.
“It feels like we have been living in a housing crisis for years, and little has improved. Something needs to change.
“Now that Labour is in Government we can make a real difference. This is why I support the Government’s commitment to build 1.5 million new social and affordable homes to help deal with the housing crisis. This will give families the suitable home they deserve.”
In addition to £39 billion for new housing, the Spending Review has also added £11 billion to the defence budget, £2 billion more for schools in real terms by 2029 and a 3% increase annual increase in real terms for the NHS.
