Polly has sounded the alarm after the future of 171 new council homes was called into doubt by Thanet District Council, and has written to the Housing Minister on behalf of the local council to raise the issue. Thanet District Council has reported that the homes may not see completion without funding that had been expected from the national housebuilding body Homes England.

Labour-run Thanet District Council set an ambitious target to build 400 new homes after securing a majority at last year’s local elections.

But plans for at least 171 of these homes are now under threat following the surprise announcement by Homes England that it had already committed its available funding until 2026.

With Thanet District Council having pledged that half of the new homes would be provided to people experiencing homelessness, Polly has warned the government that the consequences of the building plans stalling could be devastating for those suffering at the sharp end of the housing crisis in Thanet.

In her letter to the Housing Minister, Polly said:

The council in my own constituency, Thanet District Council (TDC), is working hard to find innovative new ways to deliver new council homes.

 

…If no further funding is available until April 2026, we risk losing all 171 new rented council homes, and more over the coming 18 months, at a time of national crisis when these homes are desperately needed.

 

…I urge you, therefore, to secure additional funding for Homes England as part of the current funding period 2021-2026 and for the next funding period when this is announced.

The homes are already at various stages in the development process, with some nearing completion, some started on site, and some due to start on site in the next few months.

Polly said:

For many families in Thanet, the prospect of a secure, affordable and long-term roof over their heads remains a distant dream, so I applaud Thanet District Council and our new Labour government’s commitment to an ambitious building programme for much-needed council homes.

 

But with the future of 171 of those new homes in doubt in Thanet, we need to ensure the funding from Homes England is there to complete them, so we can get struggling families through their doors as quickly as possible. That’s why this week I have written to the Housing Minister to urge him to ensure that our local Council can get on with delivering the new homes that it was elected to deliver.