BIG SLUMP IN THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOMES BUILT IN GREATER MANCHESTER

10.45.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 23rd Jun 2009

A big cut in new affordable homes being built across Greater Manchester is hitting families hard, according to figures revealed by Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell.

The figures released to Mr Stunell by the Department for Communities and Local Government show that 1,082 affordable homes were built across Greater Manchester last year, compared to 1,512 in 2000-2001 a drop of a third. In total, only 8,298 affordable homes have been built across Greater Manchester since 2000. Yet thousands of people are struggling to get onto the housing ladder, whilst council housing waiting lists in the region have also sky-rocketed to over 100,000 people.

The news comes on top of figures showing that over 50,000 homes in the region are lying empty, as revealed by Mr Stunell last month.

Commenting, Andrew Stunell said:

"The drop in the number of new affordable homes is disappointing, and is preventing thousands of people from getting on to the housing ladder.

"As I revealed last month, council house waiting lists have shot up to over 100,000 people, with over 50,000 homes also empty. When combined with the pitiful numbers of new affordable housing being constructed, we are clearly in the grip of a housing crisis in the region.

"With the construction industry having lost over 70,000 jobs and bearing the brunt of the recession, we are likely to see a further drop in new affordable housing over the next few years. This isn't good enough.

"The government should scrap the pointless, and ineffective VAT cut, and immediately invest the money into encouraging renovation of existing homes and construction of new affordable housing, to improve environmental standards, create new green jobs, revitalise the construction industry, and solve our looming housing crisis."

ENDS