MP Wants More Affordable Homes

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, questioned Deputy Prime Minster John  Prescott in the Commons about the supply of affordable homes in London. Mr Prescott was standing in for Tony Blair at Prime Minister’s Question Time last week.

Mr Gerrard pointed out the problems in Walthamstow for those people looking for a home. “Even in a constituency like mine, where housing is relatively cheap by London standards it is becoming virtually impossible for someone on an average income to get into the housing market or to find a property to rent” he said. “I appreciate the steps that have been taken recently to help key workers to buy, but that doesn’t really address the problem of the overall supply of affordable housing. What is the Deputy Prime Minister intending to do to deal with that problem?”

Replying John Prescott announced that following on a £670 million programme for housing for key workers in London, a further £150 million was to be provided via English Partnerships for homes to be built on sites in London. He went on to say that one of the sites was likely to be in Walthamstow. On top of that the Housing Corporation were setting up a £3.3 billion budget to build 67,000 affordable homes in England, bringing housing investment to double what it had been in 1997.

“I am pleased at such a positive response” said Mr Gerrard. “Housing supply is one of the most intractable problems we face locally, and major new investment is absolutely essential if we are to make progress in developing new housing.”

March 2004

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