In the news: Basildon Council Pledges Support for New Council Housing Report and Commits to Building More Homes

The report outlines crucial solutions for the future of council housing in England. As the leader of a council in one of the first wave new towns created in the aftermath of World War II, Cllr Callaghan underscored Basildon's historic commitment to providing high-quality, affordable homes and announced the council's renewed commitment to expanding its stock of council housing.

"Basildon was built on the promise of providing decent, affordable homes for everyone. As one of the original new towns, our identity is deeply rooted in the council homes that have provided generations of Basildon residents with a secure and stable place to live. Today, we stand at a crossroads, much like the one faced in the post-war period. We must choose a path that honours our past and secures a future where council housing remains a cornerstone of the communities we build in the borough.

"We need more council housing in Basildon and we need government support to remove the constraints that is preventing us from building more. This report is a great step towards forming a proper partnership with government on how we can unlock more council homes."

The "Securing the Future of Council Housing" report, supported by 20 of England's largest council landlords, sets out five key solutions to address the challenges facing council housing today. These include establishing a sustainable Housing Revenue Account (HRA) model, reforming Right to Buy policies, removing bureaucratic barriers to funding, launching a Green & Decent Homes Programme, and funding the completion of new council homes.

Cllr Callaghan highlighted the importance of these proposals for Basildon: "We fully endorse the call for a fair and sustainable HRA model, which will enable councils like ours to manage and expand our housing stock effectively. Reforming the unsustainable Right to Buy policy is also critical to ensuring that we can retain and reinvest in our housing stock, rather than losing it to the private sector."

"Our council is committed to not only maintaining but also expanding our council housing. This is why we will be exploring every opportunity to build new council homes that meet the highest standards of safety, decency, and energy efficiency, as outlined in the Green & Decent Homes Programme. Basildon was a leader in council housing post-war, and we intend to lead once again in the 21st century."

Ends

Notes to editor:
Full report:  Securing the Future of Council Housing Report (PDF) [15MB] (opens new window)

Published 3 September 2024