Question Time
Debate chaired by Michael Clarke with panellists, including:
Alison Seabeck: Labour MP Plymouth Devonport, Member of DCLG Parliamentary Committee
Dan Rogerson: Liberal Democrat MP North Cornwall, LD Housing Spokesperson
John Penrose: Conservative MP Weston-Super-Mare, PPS Oliver Letwin
Stephen Grant: Chair CBI South West
Karime Hassan: Corporate Director Environment East Devon District Council
Mike Hoey: Managing Director Wimpey Bristol
Kathie Pearce: Chair Chartered Institute of Housing in the South West, Chief Executive Bournemouth Housing Society for the Elderly.
Representative: UK Youth Parliament
We expect that issues to be debated will include:
How do we persuade local communities to vote for more housing?
There is much evidence to suggest that there is not much local political will to allocate more land for housing, both because of the NIMBY factor and proper concerns about the environmental capacity of our attractive SW Region. And yet if the wider public were asked to consider whether there should be homes provided for key workers such as fireman and nurses and homes for children and grand children who wish to remain and work in the Region then the suspicion is that more homes would become a vote winner. Clearly they would have to be attractive and complement existing communities so the Panel will be invited to offer political, community and business perspectives.
How best to "plan" for more and better homes?
The planning system nationally is creaking at the seams. There are apparently not enough planners with the right skills to prepare the plans and consider planning applications for the development that is needed. And yet with greater clarity of intent, greater certainty and speed and volume of delivery, more standardisation of process, a wider range of affordable solutions and more effective public intervention and investment, the SWHI believe that acceptable and sustainable solutions can emerge.
How do we create enough homes that people can afford?
It is an SWHI contention that attractive, sustainable homes are best provided in a mixed tenure configuration i.e. some for sale, some for rent and some shared ownership. Yet within these groups there are wide variations of provision. Private as well as social rented; discount for sale as well as full price; supported and unsupported shared ownership. The panel will be invited to offer solutions to affordability that will support the Region's housing needs.
The social and economic importance of housing in the regions
The children of local residents cannot afford to stay and work in the region. South West Companies, essential to economic prosperity, are finding it difficult to recruit and retain workers. How best can public and private sectors respond to these essential needs?
There will be questions from the floor |
