Call for Cheshire East to build its own council houses

Connor Naismith and Anthony Critchley say affordable housing delivered by private developers and registered housing providers is still beyond the reach of many people on low incomes.

They have submitted a notice of motion (NOM) to tomorrow’s (Wednesday) meeting of the full council calling on Cheshire East to create a housing revenue account - a requirement of local authorities who wish to build their own housing stock to let - and to commit to the development of a long-term strategy for the construction of high-quality, genuinely affordable council housing across the borough.

Cllr Connor Naismith (Image: Cheshire East Council)

Explaining the reason behind the NOM , Cllr Naismith said: “We are in a cost-of-living crisis on top of a housing crisis. Thousands of people within Cheshire East are struggling with above inflation rent increases in the private sector, which hampers their ability to contribute to the local economy or to save to get on the housing ladder themselves.

“Indeed, the Cheshire Homechoice waiting list is growing daily, with families in need having to wait years for an offer of accommodation, and the council having to resort to bed & breakfast accommodation to fulfil its legal duty to help homeless families.”

He said the council recognises that access to high quality, genuinely affordable and decent housing is intrinsically linked to positive health, education and social mobility outcomes.

“Put simply: if you provide people with a safe, warm and stable place to live they will be healthier and have more opportunity to get on in life,” said Cllr Naismith.

Cllr Critchley said: “While the council recognises that ‘affordable housing’ is currently delivered within Cheshire East, this is largely by private developers and registered housing providers.

Cllr Anthony Critchley (Image: Cheshire East Council)

“The government definition of ‘affordable’ is limited because it is linked to market rent rather than local incomes. As such, often housing which meets the definition of ‘affordable’ is not affordable to local people.”

He referred to the success of council's such as Salford, Trafford, Wandsworth and Stoke-on-Trent which, he said, are currently delivering high quality council housing at council rents, below market levels and ‘the positive impact this has had on the living standards of residents in those areas’.

The NOM is on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting but NOMs are often automatically referred to the relevant committee for discussion without debate at full council.