Double blow for those awaiting homes

National Housing Federation (NHF) chief executive David Orr told Housing Minister Grant Shapps he was "alarmed" by some of the new Government's pronouncements "which in the worst case scenario would have a catastrophic impact on the delivery of affordable housing".

He said in a letter the number of affordable homes built in England this year could fall by 65 per cent to just 20,390.

"If the number of affordable homes drops by the extent highlighted by our modelling it would be dire news for the 4.5 million people on waiting lists and 2.6 million people living in overcrowded conditions," he added.

Mr Orr's letter said the overall number of affordable homes built in subsequent years could fall to an even lower number unless steps were taken to modify some of the new policies.

"Access to a decent home is a key building block for a happy, healthy life, and unless we want to condemn millions of people on lower incomes to a lifetime of housing misery it is imperative that the Government reassesses some of the measures recently announced."

The letter warns cuts to this year's housing budget, the announcement of a funding black hole for already earmarked developments, the ending of the regional housing targets, the crackdown on so-called garden grabbing and the scrapping of the density directive have together removed most of the tools that facilitate the building of affordable housing in one fell swoop.

The National Affordable Housing Programme was meant to deliver 59,000 new social homes this financial year, but the Government has already announced 100m will be cut from its budget which will prevent 1,453 homes from being built.