Call of the wild
In a week of political distractions you would be forgiven for missing housing minister John Healey announce a consultation on allowing parish councils to grant planning permission for developments of up to 15 affordable homes in rural communities - a concept spookily similar to that suggested in the Conservative’s recent planning green paper.
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He said: ‘My concern is to see new homes available at affordable rents, especially for local young people who otherwise have little or no option but to leave the area.’
So why is a service which does much to ensure the homes that Mr Healey craves are built, struggling to survive? England’s 60 rural housing enablers were funded to the tune of £1.5 million by the government until 2008. Today 43 struggle on with cash from councils and associations, though even this lifeline is now threatened by tightening budgets. Social landlords admit RHEs allow them to develop more homes, so they should continue to fund them. If he stays on as housing minister, Mr Healey should too.