Issue - items at meetings - Improving Housing Supply

(1)               That the update on our Registered Provider partners’ response to the Homes & Communities Agency 15-18 Affordable Homes Programme Prospectus in Brighton & Hove, be noted.

10.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment Development and Housing which updated members on offers received in the local authority area for the 2015-18 Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) Affordable Homes Programme, including an outline of firm sites submitted by providers for the city’s area as well as details of indicative supply.  Members were also informed of additional funding options available to ensure best use of existing housing resources and to improve housing supply.  The report was presented by the Head of Housing Strategy & Development – Private Sector Housing. 

10.2    Councillor Mears referred to paragraph 3.6 in relation to the 2011-2015 Affordable Housing Investment Programme.  She noted that the 2011-2012 rent total was 79% of the total affordable units and the 2014-2015 total rent was 38% of the total affordable units.  She stressed that not everybody could afford shared ownership, and many schemes were now shared ownership only.  She was concerned that the city was moving away from affordable rents, and felt that the planning authority should require developments to have 40% affordable homes with rented properties available.      

10.3    The Chair stressed that the council were restricted by government policy with this regard.  

10.4    Councillor Farrow mentioned that a speaker at the Housing Conference had referred to a fund available to convert commercial properties to homes.  He asked for this to be investigated.  The Chair replied that all opportunities would be investigated.

10.5    RESOLVED -  (1)  That the update on our Registered Provider partners’ response to the Homes & Communities Agency 15-18 Affordable Homes Programme Prospectus in Brighton & Hove, be noted.