§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will amend total cost indicators in the grant system for housing associations so that it is more profitable for them to build homes with three and four bedrooms. [138589]
§ Keith HillI refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 6 November 2003,Official Report, column 796W. The Housing Corporation's Total Cost Indictor (TCI) framework is designed to be cost neutral across all types of homes irrespective of size.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of how to increase the construction by housing associations of(a) two, (b) three and (c) four bedroom homes in an economically viable way while meeting his Department's targets to increase the density of new housing developments. [138590]
§ Keith HillThe Housing Corporation has recently announced its bidding round for social housing grant for 2004–05 and 2005–06. It has identified a number of ways of achieving better value for money through, for example, partnering arrangements. The detailed programme will reflect priorities identified in Regional Housing Strategies and the funding recommendations made by Regional Housing Boards. Bids from registered social landlords should reflect the local needs that they are aiming to meet.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes that it is possible to achieve net development densities of up to 50 dwellings per hectare with a mix of different types and sizes of housing. Registered social landlords are already providing homes at an average of about 48 dwellings per hectare.