We built 113,000 homes in England in 2009/10, around 100,000 fewer than we need. CIH estimates building those extra homes could mean half a million jobs and £6bn in tax receipts and could place housing at the centre of the economic recovery.

In his speech to the annual CIH UK conference in Harrogate, Mr Farrand warned that deprived communities risked taking the ‘fall out’ of deficit reduction measures with loss of jobs, families struggling with housing costs and young people leaving education and unable to find work.

Howard Farrand said: “My biggest fear is that we’re reaching a time that equates social renting with broken Britain.”

The CIH President stressed that housing must be considered a priority and as local authority budgets are pooled: “we must make sure that local leaders know housing matters as much as health, as much as education…this is not an either or situation.”

The government is planning radical reform to the planning system and will incentivise local communities to support new homes.   A YouGov survey commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Housing revealed a small but active minority of generally older home owners who are opposed to new housing being built in their area.  15 per cent of respondents agreed that they were opposed to new homes being built in their area and this rose to 20 per cent of retired people and 22 per cent of those who owned their home outright.

Mr Farrand warned: “The loudest voice, the best organised residents, don’t always represent the community…and in particular those in most need.”

He concluded “Our sector can support economic growth, reduce the government debt by billions and tackle broken Britain.“
        

*ENDS*

News release issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, CIH Press Office. Telephone: 07786 716961. Email: press@cih.org.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. We are a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. We have a diverse and growing membership of 22,000 – both in the public and private sectors – living and working in over 20 countries on five continents across the world. Our members work for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Many tenants and residents are also members. We exist to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the wellbeing of communities. Further information is available at: www.cih.org

2. The Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual UK conference and exhibition in Harrogate takes place from 22-24 June 2010 www.cihhousing.com