Government promise to support local authority housing role welcomed by London Councils

London Councils has welcomed the Prime Minister's commitment to supporting local authorities in their shared ambitions to increase the supply of new homes.

Setting out his legislative agenda, Gordon Brown proposed a new Housing Bill with the promise to support and encourage initiatives on the ground by local authorities, and dramatically increase the supply of new and affordable homes.

The Prime Minister also announced his commitment to encouraging partial homeownership through shared equity schemes - an initiative London Councils has championed.  

Welcoming the announcement London Councils' Executive Member for Housing Councillor Jamie Carswell said:

"We are delighted that Gordon Brown is delivering on his commitment to put increasing the supply of new homes at the top of his agenda - and especially his recognition that local authorities are best placed to help him achieve this.

"Nowhere else has felt the housing shortage as acutely as London, where high house prices and a chronic shortfall of affordable homes have contributed to a growing crisis.

"It is clear that the government has recognised the central role local authorities will play in addressing this growing crisis - both in their ability to respond effectively to the specific needs of their local communities and in their ability to increase the supply of new homes.

"We welcome the Prime Minister's announcement of a 40,000 increase per annum in the number of new homes to be provided nationally. It will obviously be important that local authorities are properly funded in the drive to increase supply, and I hope that the Prime Minister addresses this through this year's Comprehensive Spending Review. 

"Only councils are properly placed to coordinate the sustained commitment that is required to drive up the new supply of homes; only they are properly placed to bring together all the organisations required to bring about such dramatic progress. Central to this will be granting local authorities greater flexibility and freedoms so that we are able to respond to our communities' needs, and I hope that the new housing bill will address this important area.

"Gordon Brown should be praised for driving forward a new and exciting era for housing. We look forward to helping government deliver on its ambition to dramatically increase the new supply of housing, and are determined to reinvigorate our efforts to ensure all Londoners get the homes they need."