Housing trust optimistic over Chancellor’s Statement

HOUSING associations have expressed varying levels of optimism over the impact of billions of pounds to boost homes construction announced in the Autumn Statement could have for Runcorn and Widnes.

Halton Housing Trust showed the most enthusiasm, with Nick Atkin, chief executive, saying he ‘broadly welcomes’ the measures unveiled by Chancellor Philip Hammond

Liverpool Housing Trust said it was ‘too early to say’ but that the funding appeared to include £1.4bn for ‘affordable housing’.

A Riverside spokesman said it was ‘very early days’ to gauge the impact.

Mr Hammond said the Government will build on a £3bn Home Builders’ Fund announced by communities secretary Sajid Javid in October.

The chancellor said the cash would build 200,000 homes.

During his Autumn Statement he revealed plans to spend £2.3bn on building infrastructure to enable to construction of 200,000 properties in areas of high demand.

Other steps include relaxing restrictions of the type of home eligible for Government grant and a large-scale regional right-to-buy pilot scheme.

Nick Atkin, Halton Housing Trust chief executive, said: “The trust broadly welcomes the measures announced in the recent Autumn Statement. We had lobbied for greater flexibility in the housing programme so we were pleased to see this included, alongside additional funding to enable the construction of new homes.

“This will enable us to continue to build homes whilst also being able to adapt to the economic uncertainty of the next few years ahead and the impact this will have on local housing markets.

“The trust has built 850 homes since 2008 through an investment totalling just under £100m.

“We have plans to continue to build more homes using a combination of the additional funding announced in the Autumn Statement for both rent and low cost home ownership, together with homes for outright sale.”