OFT must investigate lack of affordable homes - Rogerson, 25 June 2007
Commenting on today’s announcement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that it will be investigating the housing market, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, Dan Rogerson MP said:
“Labour’s policies over the last ten years have created the current housing crisis. Any complete investigation of the housing market must examine the Government’s policies, or lack of them, on providing more affordable homes.
“The problem is that the Government has only provided limited numbers of homes which don’t remain affordable in the long term. It would be a gross oversight if the OFT didn’t consider this in their report.
“I welcome the OFT’s consideration of building regulations and how they are enforced, but it is vital that they also include the effects of landbanks and option agreements. The Government has considerable land holdings, which could provide affordable homes through community land trusts.
“Given the impact homes have on the environment, it is worrying that sustainable development considerations won’t be included in the OFT's report either. As a result, their conclusions risk being unbalanced and incomplete.”