Agenda item

Agenda item

Delivering Manchester's Affordable Housing Strategy - Update on the delivery of the Council's affordable housing strategy

Report of the Strategic Director (Development)

 

This report provides an update on the delivery of the Council’s affordable housing strategy.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Development), which provided an update on the delivery of the Council’s affordable housing strategy.

 

The Director of Housing and Residential Growth referred to the main points and themes within the report which included:-

 

·                An overview of the Councils 10 year residential growth strategy and progress to date;

·                The level of social housing provision within the city;

·                A synopsis of Manchester’s housing market and affordability;

·                The Council’s delivery of affordable housing over the last three years and its proposals for the delivery of further affordable homes up to 2025;

·                Investment opportunities resulting from the establishment of the Housing Affordability Fund; and

·                Housing provision for older and vulnerable people, including access to suitable properties.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committees discussions were:-

 

·                Was it possible to inform Members of the sites proposed for the additional 150 homes and what process was used to include Ward Councillor in identifying these locations;

·                In relation to affordability figures, was there any figures available in relation to help Manchester residents with deposits;

·                Was there any evidence from other core cities that a more balanced housing market was able to attract more working households;

·                Was there any connection between the disparity of worker and resident wages in the city and the rise in homelessness;

·                Why was the Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme (SOAHP) undersubscribed;

·                What was being done to address the issue of families living in overcrowded social housing;

·                Why was the Local Housing Allowance higher in Wythenshawe in comparison to the rest of the city as this was proving problematic for Wythenshawe residents who were on low incomes; and

·                How successful had the Council been, in working with its public and private partners in delivering the Housing Affordability Framework.

 

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration advised that Ward Member consultation was ongoing and acknowledged the need to include Ward Councillors in discussions in the earlier stages of the process of identifying sites.  The Director of Housing and Residential Growth advised that prior to the HRA Cap being lifted, the Council had applied for some HRA headroom and in doing so had identified a number of potential sites which added up to 150 homes, with the locations being indicative for the purpose of the bid.  There would be need to revisit these initial allocations and hold discussions with local Ward Councillors before any final proposals were determined.

 

The Strategic Director (Development) reported that the only metric the Council had in relation to the support provided to residents for deposits was through the help to buy government scheme.  The Committee was also advised that the Council had launched a small scheme to help those who could afford a mortgage repayment, but were not able to save for a deposit and although this scheme was new, there was a high demand for this form Manchester residents.  He also advised that more work was needed to be undertaken as to whether there was evidence from other core cities that a more balanced housing market was able to attract more working households.  He reported that the disparity of worker and resident wages in the city had likely had an impact on the and the rise in homelessness, but there were a number of other drivers too, including the increased demand for housing, the wider impact of the welfare reforms and the behaviours of poor landlords that were the nexus of the housing issues the City was facing.

 

The Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration advised that the Council did not have the level of detail in relation to the number of families living in overcrowded properties, but acknowledged that this was an issue that had been identified as part of the review of the housing allocations policy and was something that was being looked into.

 

The Director of Housing and Residential Growth advised that Homes England had found that the time allowed it had for SOAHP funding to be applied for versus the complexity of the sites and size of bids that had come forward had not allowed enough time for them to process all the bids.  As such, Home England had changed its approach its next round of funding, and were talking to a smaller number of partners and inviting larger bids over longer periods of time for deliver, giving greater flexibility to invest.  He also reported that in most parts of the city, Local Housing Allowance and affordable rents worked together, however, in Wythenshawe this was not the case and levels were slightly above social rental levels to tie into its Local Housing Allowance.  This was something that the Council was minded to address and formed part of the proposals in the next report.

 

Decision

 

The Committee notes the progress made to date in delivering the Council’s affordable housing strategy.

 

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