Mark Pawsey proposes innovative solution to the housing shortage
Speaking in the Commons last week, Rugby MP Mark Pawsey asked the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles about the government’s plans to relax the planning rules and allow the conversion of empty commercial space into new homes for first-time buyers.
Speaking in the Chamber Mark said:
“Will the Minister tell the House when the legislation might be introduced and estimate the number of new homes that might be created in this way?”
Responding for the government Mr Pickles replied:
“The proposal could produce 70,000 new homes over 10 years”.
Speaking after the debate Mark said:
“Last year we built fewer now houses than in any year since the 1920s and the need for more new homes is accepted across the political spectrum. The Government has introduced two schemes, Firstbuy and the New Homes Bonus to stimulate the market and in addition one way of providing more housing stock is by converting empty commercial space into flats or houses for first-time buyers.
He continued:
“Of course not all space will be suitable for conversion, but this scheme shows that the government is doing all that it can, given the economic circumstances, to provide houses for those who need to get on the housing ladder. This is definite step in the right direction”.