HC Deb 29 July 1976 vol 916 cc361-2W
Mr. Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the recently announced plans by the London borough of Haringey to introduce various kinds of tenants' co-operatives.

Mr. Freeson

I very much welcome these plans, which have been discussed with the Department, and which will be submitted in due course for approval under the provisions for co-operative housing which I introduced into the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975. I was particularly interested to see the extensive publicity being used by the London borough of Haringey in order to explain to existing council tenants, and to applicants on the waiting list and other local people in housing need, what would be involved in taking part in the various co-operative ventures now under consideration in the borough. These include, I understand, a rehabilitation scheme to provide family housing, and new construction projects both for families and for single young people. The borough is also giving strong support to the tenants of the Ladybur Co-operative Housing Association, which has acquired a block of flats from the private landlord and will carry out much needed renovations with the help of housing association grant.

I am glad to say that similar initiatives to establish housing co-operatives are being taken by local authorities and housing associations elsewhere. This new development in housing is an essential part of the Government's housing and urban policy, and we are examining further developments in the field of tenants' rights and alternative forms of social ownership and tenure in our housing policy review.