The Government’s efforts to build more affordable homes could be more ambitious in working to achieve wider aims, including on net zero and improving the quality of local housing, according to a National Audit Office report.
The programme exists to provide grant funding to housing providers in England, to try to ensure there is a sufficient supply of affordable homes.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, the LGA’s Housing and Environment Spokesperson, highlighted the need to balance the requirement for more affordable homes with the importance of considering how new and existing properties are contributing to national net zero targets – as all public funds should.
“This is particularly important for new properties as it is far more expensive and potentially difficult to retrofit at a later date, and because the affordability of a home is likely to be increasingly linked to its energy source and efficiency over time,” he added.
“As well as the environmental impact, the quality of home is equally important. Decent, safe, secure and affordable housing is at the cornerstone of everything local government does, and providing it is one of the biggest challenges we face.
“The Affordable Homes Programme must take account of size requirements and consider the contrasting housing needs of communities.
“To this end, we need a range of affordable housing options that are appropriate for all stages of life and as a springboard to support communities to live healthy and independent lives.”