§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many(a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) co-operative houses were started in 1997–98; and how many he expects to be started in the current year. [45383]
§ Mr. RaynsfordIt is estimated that 165 new local authority dwellings and 19,100 new housing association (now Registered Social Landlords) dwellings were started in England during the financial year 1997–98. No information is collected centrally about new houses started by co-operative housing groups.
The Department does not forecast starts. However the Housing Corporation estimates that in 1998–99 it will grant approvals for around 31,000 new housing association homes to be built or acquired by the private sector, with rehabilitation or renovation carried out where necessary, using Approved Development Programme and local authority funding.