Housing Transfer (Hansard, 22 June 2001)

§ Ms Keeble

I am announcing today the names of the 27 local authorities which, on a voluntary basis and subject to the approval of their tenants, will be able to proceed in 2001–02 with proposals to carry out 32 transfers of all or part of their housing stock to registered social landlords. Including authorities for which I am holding open places, the programme will involve over 328,000 dwellings in large-scale voluntary transfers over two years, generating capital receipts of over £1.1 billion for the authorities.

The 2001–02 programme reflects this Government's commitment, re-stated in the December 2000 Housing Policy Statement "The way forward for housing", to support a continuing programme of housing stock transfers as a means of delivering our decent homes objective. Stock transfer offers benefits for tenants. The new landlord is committed to deliver proper maintenance and future repairs. Increased investment from private sources means that any backlog of repairs can be carried out more quickly than if the properties had remained in local authority ownership. Over time, tenants' rents will be similar to what they would pay to their local authority, due to the Government's policy of bringing greater fairness and cohesion to the structure of social rents, set out in the Housing Policy Statement.

Housing transfers are voluntary, and may only take place if tenants are in favour. The consent of the Secretary of State is also required before a transfer can proceed, and that will only be granted if it appears that a majority of tenants wish the transfer to proceed.

Local authorities on the 2001 programme will be assisted by the newly formed Community Housing Task Force, which will be available to provide expert guidance on the transfer process and to ensure that new social landlords created by the transfer process empower tenants, regenerate communities and make other cross-service links.

Ealing LBC, Harrogate BC and Hackney LBC (for a second transfer comprising its sheltered housing stock) applied for places on this year's programme, but I am giving them more time to develop their transfer proposals. I am also holding open a place on the programme for Birmingham CC, pending the agreement of a minimum valuation. I welcome the application received from Sheffield city council and, while not securing a place on the 2001–02 transfer programme, I am inviting them to work with the Community Housing Task Force to refine their proposal with a view to submitting an application for a subsequent year's transfer programme.

The authorities which have successfully gained a place on the programme, together with the intended recipient registered social landlord, are as follows:

(i) a disposal by Mid Bedfordshire district council of not more than 3,3000 dwelling-houses to Aragon Housing Association;
(ii) a disposal by Bradford city council of not more than 26,136 dwelling-houses to a new registered social landlord comprising a group structure of six new local housing companies;
(iii) a disposal by Braintree district council of not more than 8,862 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;
(iv) a disposal by Carlisle city council of not more than 7,687 dwelling-houses to Riverside Housing:
(v) a disposal by Chelmsford borough council of not more than 7,043 dwelling-houses to Chelmer Housing Partnership;
(vi) a disposal by Craven district council of not more than 1,630 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;
(vii) a disposal by Crewe and Nantwich borough council of not more than 6,000 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;
(viii) a disposal by Derbyshire Dales district council of not more than 3,281 dwelling-houses to Dales Housing Ltd.;
(ix) a disposal by Dudley metropolitan council of not more than 26,702 dwelling-houses to a new registered social landlord comprising a group structure of five new local housing companies;
(x) a disposal by East Hertfordshire borough council of not more than 5,988 dwelling-houses to Stort Valley Housing Association and Riversmead Housing Association;
(xi) a disposal by Erewash council of not more than 6,114 dwelling-houses to Erewash Housing Ltd.;
(xii) a disposal by the London Borough of Hackney of not more than six dwelling-houses to Canalside Housing Partnership;
(xiii) a disposal by the London Borough of Harrow of not more than 518 dwelling-houses to Warden Housing Association, a subsidiary of the Home Housing Group.
(xiv) a disposal by Herefordshire council of not more than 5,780 dwelling-houses to a registered social Landlord;
(xv) a disposal by Knowsley metropolitan borough council of not more than 17,341 dwelling-houses to Knowsley Housing Trust;
(xvi) three disposals by Liverpool city council of not more than 7,642 dwelling-houses to a new subsidiary of Liverpool Housing Trust; not more than 3,707 dwelling-houses to Berrybridge Housing, a new subsidiary of Riverside Housing; and not more than 2,833 dwelling-houses to another new subsidiary of Riverside Housing;
(xvii) three disposals by Manchester city council of not more than 2,407 dwelling-houses on the Hattersley estate to Harvest Housing Group; not more than 3,418 dwelling-houses on the Langley estate to a new subsidiary of Riverside Housing; and not more than 3,291 dwelling-houses in East Manchester to a registered social landlord;
(xviii) a disposal by the London Borough of Merton of not more than 9,612 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;
(xix) a disposal by Redcar and Cleveland borough council of not more than 11,803 dwelling-houses to Coast and Country Housing;
(xx) a disposal by Reigate and Banstead borough council of not more than 5,659 dwelling-houses to Reigate and Banstead Housing Trust Ltd.;
(xxi) a disposal by St. Edmundsbury borough council of not more than 6,308 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;
(xxii) a disposal by St. Helens metropolitan borough council of not more than 14,507 dwelling-houses to Helena Housing Ltd.
(xxiii) a disposal by Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council of not more than 5,744 dwelling-houses to Severnside Housing Ltd.;
(xxiv) a disposal by the London Borough of Southwark of not more than 2,518 dwelling-houses to a new subsidiary of South London Family Housing Associations;
(xxv) a disposal by Vale borough council of not more than 7,201 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;
(xxvi) two disposals by Walsall metropolitan borough council of not more than 24,283 dwelling-houses to Walsall Group Housing Trust and not more than 2,346 dwellings to WATMOS Housing Trust.
(xxvii) a disposal by the London Borough of Waltham Forest of not more than 2,613 dwelling-houses to Forest Homes, a new subsidiary of London and Quadrant Housing Trust.