HC Deb 26 October 2001 vol 373 cc426-7W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans to speed up the development of social housing in rural areas. [8529]

Ms Keeble

[holding answer 18 October 2001]: We recognise the importance of affordable housing in maintaining balanced and successful rural communities. We are taking a number of measures to improve the delivery of social housing in rural areas.

Last year just under 4,400 homes were approved in larger rural areas and market towns through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development programme and local authority funding. This was in addition to 1,321 homes provided by the same means in small settlements of fewer than 3,000 people.

Our overall strategy is to ensure that the housing needs of people living in rural areas are properly identified; to increase investment in new social housing; to maximum delivery of affordable housing through the planning system; and to make the best use of existing property. We expect to deliver around 9,000 affordable homes annually in rural areas by 2003–04 through these measures, as announced in the Rural White Paper.

We expect all local authorities to develop housing strategies that address the need for affordable housing. In addition, we want local authorities to make better use of the planning system to secure more affordable homes as part of mixed developments in markets towns and villages. We will issue shortly a consultation paper on the review of the planning system. The fundamental objective of the review is to improve the efficiency of the system.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate(a) the number of council houses sold in south Gloucestershire in each of the last 10 years and (b) the number of new social rented houses built in South Gloucestershire over the same period. [10476]

Ms Keeble

The information is as follows:

(a) Council houses sold in south Gloucestershire1 in the last 10 years:

  • 1996–97: 91
  • 1997–98: 113
  • 1998–99: 184
  • 1999–2000: 177
  • 2000–01: 183

For 2001–02 the council is estimating 175.

(b) New social rented houses built:

  • 1996–97: not available
  • 1997–98: not available
  • 1998–99: 65
  • 1999–2000: 99
  • 2000–01: 89

For 2001–02: 89 are planned.

1 South Gloucestershire was created on 1 April 1996.