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New research on Section 106 contributions feature in today’s press.
In the news
Cash payments to satisfy Section 106 obligations have risen to £2.1bn, up from £1.7bn in 2012, research has indicated. Section 106 is used to gain benefits for the community from a housing development – usually a percentage of affordable housing – but in some instances developers can persuade the local authority to take cash instead.
This practice is controversial as it arguably reduces the amount of affordable housing developed, but lending platform Lendy, which carried out the research, warned the rise in sums may be preventing builders from developing.
Meanwhile, Slough Council has attacked the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for “deliberately” not building affordable housing, and forcing lower-income residents into Slough instead. Windsor has just published its Local Plan, which does not require the building of affordable homes, inciting anger from the councillors of the neighbouring borough, the Slough Observer reports.
And housing associations may be interested to learn that tendering has opened for the next phase of the government’s asylum accommodation contract, which has proved controversial in the past.
On social media
Former housing association chief executive Tom Murtha has again criticised the sector for what he sees as an insufficient challenge to government cuts.
Worries me #ukhousing sector tries more complicated solutions to overcome govt funding cuts Why not just challenge the cuts that harm all?
— Tom Murtha (@tomemurtha)Worries me #ukhousing sector tries more complicated solutions to overcome govt funding cuts Why not just challenge the cuts that harm all?
— Tom Murtha (@tomemurtha) August 5, 2017