KEETCH CALLS FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COUNTY

10.06.19am GMT Tue 15th Feb 2005

Hereford's MP Paul Keetch told a meeting of Estate Agents from Herefordshire and Worcestershire that there is a chronic shortage of affordable housing in the county. Speaking at the Left Bank he told them that unless action happens soon, young people will continue to leave the county.

"Being able to afford your own home is surely something we all aspire to, but for so many in Herefordshire it's a dream they may never fulfil," he said.

"We must look at ways of providing more affordable housing, either via local authority or Housing Association shared ownership schemes. These are needed in villages as well as the city and the Council must make land available in the Unitary Development Plan for such schemes. I was glad that some councillors recently went against officers' advice and agreed a scheme at Orcop.

"I also welcome the Government's decision to free up Government land for development, but most ex MoD or NHS land in Herefordshire has already been developed. The Tory idea though of allowing tenants from Housing Associations to buy their own home would just make the situation worse and reduce the stock - we need more affordable housing for rent not less!"

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