Hounslow to hit New Affordable Homes Target this Administration, and next

With the growing housing crisis caused by a critical shortage of Council Housing, it's good to see that Hounslow Council will be able to deliver on the 2010 Pledge of 2500 new affordable homes in the borough.  What’s more, the Cabinet committed at the last Cabinet meeting  to plans that will deliver a further 3000 homes over the following five years.  At least 500 of the new homes will be Council-owned and the rest provided by Housing Associations.  Included in the total for the next five years  are 48 new sheltered housing units and 50 hostel units for homeless people.

This large increase in new Council housing has been made possible now that the Council has full control over the income it receives from its housing stock (The Housing Revenue Account) as well as having enhanced borrowing powers.  Introduced by the outgoing Labour Government, these powers are now coming on-stream - not a moment too soon to address the catastrophic shortage of decent quality affordable housing we have.