Tories slam Prescott’s housing challenge
John Prescott today defied critics who said it was impossible to design a £60,000 house by announcing the nine organisations who have risen to the challenge.
These organisations will now go into the final stage of the Design for Manufacture competition, where they will bid to develop the high quality, affordable homes on one or more of the ten public sector-owned sites available.
However, the Conservatives have launched a scathing attack on the competition, saying the sites available are far from suitable for family homes and only 300 of the 1,000 homes due to be built will be affordable.
Announcing the shortlist for the prize today, Mr Prescott said the £60,000 challenge was “raising the bar” for the quality of future developments everywhere and was a sign of the progress his department was making in providing more affordable housing.
“As well as enabling around 1,000 more families and first-time buyers to have a decent, affordable home of their own, the £60,000 house challenge is raising the bar for the quality of future developments everywhere,” the deputy prime minister said.
“I also congratulate the commendees and other entrants, who have all contributed to the lessons we can learn from this groundbreaking project.”
He said planning reforms are resulting in the more efficient use of sites available, which enables the government to meet demand for housing in the south-east while keeping more Greenfield land.
But the Conservatives slammed the £60,000 house challenge, saying it was far from the panacea the government suggests.
They warn that all the sites available are on contaminated land, including a former mine and next to a landfill, while 140 homes will be next to HMP Woodhill.
Shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman said “nothing could be further from the truth” than the government’s claims that starter homes would be sold at £60,000.
“The grim reality is that the homes are in less than desirable locations – such as next door to mines, prisons and landfill – and are all on contaminated land. The end sale prices will be six figure sums each, and only a mere 300 homes will be affordable,” she said.
“Yet the Labour spin machine cannot disguise the fact that John Prescott’s housing policies – such as soaring council tax, stamp duty hikes and cuts to the Right to Buy – have helped kicked a generation off the first rung of the housing ladder.”
