HC Deb 21 July 1999 vol 335 cc516-7W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many affordable homes to rent were developed in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998 in (i) Salisbury district, (ii) North Dorset district, (iii) New Forest district, (iv) Kennet district and (v) Test Valley district. [91794]

Mr. Raynsford

The additional rented social lettings provided in these districts in 1997–98 and 1998–99 by registered social landlords, with support from the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) and Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG), were as follows:

District 1997–98 1998–99
Salisbury 121 95
North Dorset 93 51
New Forest 124 148
Kennet 218 138
Test Valley 57 68

These additional social lettings come from new build, the purchase and rehabilitation of existing property and from empty properties brought into use for temporary social housing. The ADP and LASHG also support the provision of homes for shared ownership and incentive schemes which assist social tenants to move into home ownership and vacate their lettings for others in housing need.

According to information provided to the Department by local authorities, there was no new building of council housing in these districts in 1997–98 and 1998–99 (other than that provided by LASHG).