First council house building for a generation put forward
Bath and North East Somerset’s first general needs council houses in a generation could be given the go-ahead.
After transferring its housing stock to what is now Curo in 1999, there are now some 6,000 households on the council’s waiting list for social housing.
Cabinet bosses made a manifesto pledge to build council homes and are set to approve a £12.1million programme for 58 social rented properties on eight sites deemed surplus to requirements.
The council blames the demand for social housing on property costs - the district is one of the least affordable outside of London, with the average home costing 12.5 times the average salary.
It estimates that three-quarters of all first-time buyers will be unable to afford a typical terrace home, and renting is also expensive.
Councillor Tom Davies, the cabinet member for council house building, said: “At the moment there are around 6,000 households on our social housing waiting list, but typically only around 600 properties become vacant each year.
“We are determined as a council to play a leading role in helping to bridge this gap and for this reason I am delighted that the cabinet is being asked to approve the first new general needs council houses in our area for a generation.
“The council’s corporate strategy made a clear commitment to deliver more social and affordable housing and this is the first phase of what we intend to be a substantial programme of new council houses over the coming years.
“We will also ensure that this programme delivers homes which are designed and built in a way which meets our commitment to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies.”
Details of seven of the sites have been withheld due to commercial sensitivity. One has been confirmed as 117 Newbridge Hill, which the council sold to its development company, Aequus, for nearly £500,000 less than its market value to stop it being turned into a single luxury home or rented out to students or tourists.
The firm is currently converting it into six apartments.
There are four other schemes where Aequus has some prior involvement and is set to be commissioned to support delivery, potentially along with the other three sites.
The council will subsidise the programme to the tune of £2.3 million.
It hopes to get £3.4 million in government grants and £6.4 million from rental payments.
It has already approved plans to directly deliver 50 supported and shared-ownership homes over the next two years. More than half will be aimed at homeless households and former rough sleepers.
The cabinet was due to vote on the proposal this week.