Direct action to solve area’s housing crisis

Bath and North East Somerset is one of the least affordable areas for housing in the country, with house prices that far outstrip average earnings, high private rents and long waiting lists for social housing.

The Lib Dem leadership of B&NES Council is taking direct action to tackle this housing crisis. We are utilising surplus councilowned land and properties to deliver the first, new, general needs council homes in our area for a generation.

Our initial plans are for 58 homes on eight sites in Bath and in North East Somerset. Then, over the coming months, we will be developing plans for a substantial programme of hundreds of additional council houses in our area.

This will mean a new role and a new responsibility for B&NES, becoming responsible for directly delivering and owning new general needs council houses for social rent for our residents.

In addition, we are also developing 50 units of specialist accommodation, including supported housing to help homeless people and emergency housing units.

Last week, Conservative spokesperson Bob Goodman said there is a “stigma” related to council housing that is preventing announcement of the sites. I reject this suggestion, which is entirely his own invention. Our new council homes will be assets to the communities in which they are situated, providing affordable housing in useful locations. These will be quality homes, with high energy efficiency standards to help reduce fuel costs for residents and contribute to our climate emergency goals.

Work has already started on the first site at 117 Newbridge Hill in Bath, where a building formerly used for council offices is being converted. The next sites will be announced as soon as we are able to do so. Of course, all sites will be subject to robust business cases, the full planning application process and associated public engagement. I can confirm that Englishcombe Lane is not one of the eight sites identified for these general needs council houses.

Mr Goodman finds fault in the use of the council’s development company, Aequus, in assisting the council in delivering some of these new properties. This is confusing – not least of all as it was the Conservative Cabinet in which Mr Goodman later served which established this company but also because, being council-owned, any profits made by Aequus are returned to the council to help support vital local services.

I know from the many positive comments I have received since the launch of our council house building programme that many in our community care deeply about our housing issues and are delighted to see us deliver the first council houses for a generation.

Instead of trying to find fault with this new programme of council houses, I invite Mr Goodman to live

up to his words and stated commitment to social housing by instead supporting this council’s bold decision to deliver hundreds of much-needed homes for our residents.

With this milestone decision to provide new council homes, the Lib Dem administration is showing our commitment to responding to local needs and delivering for local residents.

Councillor Tom Davies Cabinet member for Council House Building

Bath and North East Somerset Council