SDLP North Antrim MLA Sean Farren says that the recently
announced housing affordability review must act quickly if is to be of use to
the many first-time buyers who caught by the present spiralling cost of
houses.
Mr Farren said: “There is an affordability crisis building
in the North. The government can no longer sit on its hands doing nothing while
land and house prices spiral out of control.
“There is a severe shortage of social housing as a result
of years of government failure to meet new build targets.
“More and more aspiring homeowners are having severe
difficulty buying their own home as house prices spiral out of control, far
outstripping income.
“And there are severe problems in the private rented sector
largely as a result of the shortages in social and affordable housing”.
“The SDLP has put a strong case to the review team led by
Sir John Semple arguing that the government has a responsibility to provide a
comprehensive practical and workable affordability strategy.
“Land must be freed up if prices are to come down. To make housing affordable, public land could be sold for development with affordability or mixed tenure conditions attached.
“There must also be an increase in new build. The key to
affordability lies in providing mixed tenure in terms of both size and need.
This must be bolstered by an adequate housing budget. Receipts from house sales
should all go back into housing not fall into the coffers of the Chancellor.
“But essential to all of this is planning reform.
Permission should be granted to affordable and not just social housing
developments where there is need.
“Being able to afford your home is becoming a distant dream
to far too many people, particularly single people.”