This motion endorses policy paper 155, Tackling the Housing Crisis. Motion as passed by conference.
Submitted by: Federal Policy Committee
Mover: Helen Morgan MP (Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Government).
Summation: Cllr Peter Thornton (Chair of the Policy Working Group).
Conference believes that:
Conference condemns a string of Conservative failures on housing, which has created England's housing crisis, including:
Conference maintains its commitment to a national housing target of 380,000 new homes per year, to set a clear direction of travel and to indicate serious intent to address the housing crisis.
Conference believes that local housing targets need to exist as part of delivering an overall national target; local and central government share responsibility for delivering the housing we desperately need. Local Planning Authorities should co-operate at regional or sub-regional level to ensure that they deliver homes where they are needed.
Conference agrees that Liberal Democrats should put in place detailed policies to address the ongoing national failure to build enough homes. Only with an ambitious response to the housing crisis can people in desperate housing need have a realistic ambition to buy or rent the home they need.
Conference therefore endorses policy paper 155, Tackling the Housing Crisis, and in particular its proposals to improve housing in England by:
Applicability: England only; except 5. b) (lines 74-75), which is Federal.
Conference believes that:
Conference condemns a string of Conservative failures on housing, which has created England's housing crisis, including:
Conference calls for a Fair Deal for housing, one which meets the aspirations of young people to own a home, provides affordable and secure social housing for the less well off, gives those in the private rental sector the stability and security that they need to live fulfilling lives and helps the UK meet its climate change goals.
Conference believes that a national housing target for private sector homes will not deliver this Fair Deal, as:
Conference therefore endorses policy paper 155, Tackling the Housing Crisis, and in particular its proposals to improve housing in England by:
Applicability: England only; except 5. b) (lines 74-75), which is Federal.
Mover and summation: 16 minutes combined; movers and summation of any amendments: 4 minutes; all other speakers: 3 minutes. For eligibility and procedure for speaking in this debate, see pages 110-111 of the agenda.
The deadline for amendments to this motion is 13.00 Monday 11 September. Those selected for debate will be printed in Conference Extra and Monday’s Conference Daily. The deadline for requests for separate votes is 09.00 on Sunday 24 September.
In addition to speeches from the platform, voting members will be able to make concise (maximum one minute) interventions from the floor during the debate on the motion. See pages 109 and 111 of the agenda for further information.
The FCC has agreed to make the following drafting amendment to the motion:
In 7. (line 82) after ‘and cap ground rents’, insert ‘on commonhold and commercial leaseholds’.
Submitted by: Young Liberals and 149 members
Mover: Janey Little.
Summation: Cllr Stephen Robinson.
Delete lines 44 to 56 and insert:
Conference maintains its commitment to a national housing target of 380,000 new homes per year, to set a clear direction of travel and to indicate serious intent to address the housing crisis.
Conference believes that local housing targets need to exist as part of delivering an overall national target; local and central government share responsibility for delivering the housing we desperately need. Local Planning Authorities should co-operate at regional or sub-regional level to ensure that they deliver homes where they are needed.
Conference agrees that Liberal Democrats should put in place detailed policies to address the ongoing national failure to build enough homes. Only with an ambitious response to the housing crisis can people in desperate housing need have a realistic ambition to buy or rent the home they need.
In 2. (lines 62–65) delete ‘with robust …’ to ‘… population changes’ and insert ‘that translates the national target into achievable local targets, creating sustainable communities and rewarding local authorities that support the housing growth agenda’.
Submitted by: ALDC
Mover: Cllr Chris White.
Summation: Cllr Lucy Nethsingha.
After H. (line 37), insert:
Around 1 million homes already have planning permission and are not yet built, with another 1 million homes in local plans that have not yet reached the planning stage.
After 12. (line 117), insert:
13. Encouraging development of existing brownfield sites with financial incentives and ensuring that affordable and social housing is included in these projects.
14. Introducing ‘use-it-or-lose-it planning permission’ for developers who fail to develop land that has been given full planning permission.
15. Strengthening the investment in infrastructure works to free up sites where permission has been agreed.
16. Ensuring that when offices are converted to residential properties through permitted development the local planning authority has the power to insist social and affordable housing is included.
17. Ensuring vacant land and buildings in public ownership can be prioritised for development projects which deliver public good socially, economically or environmentally by:
a) Giving councils the power to mandate that public land is developed for social housing only.
b) Introducing guidance for central government departments and arms-length bodies to ensure social value is factored in when publicly owned assets are sold off.
Submitted by: 50 members
Mover: Joshan Parmar.
Summation: Emma Munday.
In II. (line 8), after ‘property’ insert: ‘while other policies such as cuts to stamp duty have increased demand for homes without increasing the supply, exacerbating the crisis’.
After iii) (line 56), insert:
iv) Our built environment has a huge impact on our climate. And less land-hungry forms of building are more sustainable and can help us meet our carbon targets, for example making more optimal use of land (including brownfield sites) and better use of existing homes.
v) Many communities want to build more homes and need to see localist, community-focused solutions that give local people reasons and the powers to say yes to development.
After 8. d) (line 93), insert:
e) Giving social tenants more powers to run ballots, giving them greater opportunity and control, including the possibility to back new social homes.
After 11. c) (line 109), insert:
d) Exploring methods for communities to back new developments, including giving residents of streets the ability to support more homes on their street.
After 12. c) (line 117), add:
d. Continue and, if successful, expand trials of Community Land Auctions to ensure that local communities receive a fair share of the benefits of new development in their areas and to help fund vital local services
13. Exploring methods to encourage the sustainable use of existing buildings to allow people to make the most of their home, whilst complying with all relevant local plan requirements.