Affordable Housing (North-West) (Hansard, 23 June 2004)

§ 3. Dr. John Pugh (Southport) (LD)
What figures the Government have collated on the availability of affordable housing, coastal towns in the north-west. [179831]

§ The Minister for Housing and Planning (Keith Hill)
The availability of affordable housing is primarily a matter for local housing authorities, although the Government collates range of data on housing stock condition, new completions and vacancies at local authority level.

§ Dr. Pugh
The Minister must recognise that there is a growing crisis in affordable housing in successful resorts such as Southport. That is a problem for first-time buyers, and it is also causes problems for the town's economic expansion. Does he acknowledge that there is now a case for looking closely at regional planning guidance and the hot sing moratorium?

§ Keith Hill
There is no moratorium. The hon. Gentleman should bear in mind the fact that over the past 10 years house building in the north-west region has exceeded demand by 50 per cent., so it is reasonable to try to relate new housing development to need. However, new Government funding of nearly £500 million over the next two years will deliver 9,500 homes for rent and sale, as well as improvements to existing houses in the north-west. I am sure that Sefton metropolitan borough council, Southport's local authority, will benefit from that new money for the purposes of affordable housing.

§ Mr. Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley) (Lab)
While recognising the needs of Southport and the coastal towns, my right hon. Friend must not forget that nearby towns like Chorley, which are affected in the same way, ought to be part of the same package. Will he consider using the Government-owned land in Chorley for low-cost housing?

§ Keith Hill
I am aware of my hon. Friend's serious concerns about the matter on behalf of his constituents in Chorley, which he has raised in many representations to me. I anticipate that Chorley will benefit from the extra package of funding that I mentioned earlier, and we expect new planning guidance for the north-west region to commence towards the end of this year.