Polly has welcomed remarks made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, in the Spring Statement praising the progress made by Thanet District Council on building new affordable and social housing in Thanet.

Speaking today (26 March) in parliament, the Chancellor said across the country the government had:

provided an additional £2 billion of investment in social and affordable homes next year, delivering up to 18,000 new homes and allowing local areas to bid for new development across our country, including sites in Thanet, Sunderland and Swindon. More security for families across our country promised by this Labour government, delivered by this Labour government, and opposed by the parties opposite.

The Chancellor was referring to Labour-controlled Thanet District Council’s pledge to provide at least 400 local authority-owned affordable and social homes by 2027, including a mix of third-party new builds, refurbishments, and a council construction programme.

In recent weeks the council has announced that it was on the verge of delivering on their pledge two years early, supported by the new Labour government, with 343 new homes having been secured and delivered, and 67 of those already occupied.

Prior to Labour taking control of the council in 2023, it was delivering an average of just 18 new council homes per year.

Speaking following the statement, Polly said:

It’s fantastic to see Labour-run Thanet District Council getting the credit they are due in parliament for their affordable housing programme, which is building more social homes with local firms, employing more local people, and delivering more local apprenticeships in Thanet.

With homelessness in Thanet having soared under the Conservatives and more and more people struggling with sky high rents or unable to get on the housing ladder, it is great to see the government and our local council working to ensure everyone in our community can have a safe, secure, and affordable home to live in.

I speak to far too many people in Thanet who are desperate to start their own lives in a place they can call their own. Labour in Thanet and nationally are delivering what those people need.