Build Britain out of recession - Unite calls for action to
kick-start social housing building programme
17 June 2009
An action plan to kick-start the social housing building
programme for the 4.5million people on waiting lists was launched
by Unite, the largest union in the country, today (Wednesday, 17
June).
Unite argues in its blueprint, Meeting
housing need: Building Britain out of recession, that such a
massive council house building programme would meet social need and
be an engine for economic revival generally, by creating thousands
of jobs in the construction industry and its suppliers.
Unite’s five-point programme is being launched today (Wednesday,
17 June) at a London conference being addressed by the new Minister
for Housing and Planning, John Healey.
Unite Deputy General Secretary, Jack Dromey said: ‘Unite welcomes
the progress the government has made, including in the recent
budget. There is still much more to do however.’
‘As the recession bites and home repossessions mount, the demand
for social housing is expected to rise from the already 4.5 million
people on local authority social housing waiting lists – 1 in 12
people in the country. A shortage of housing also fuels tensions in
hard-pressed communities, exploited by the brain-dead boot boys in
suits of the BNP.’
‘A large-scale social housing programme, including council built
and rented property, is urgently needed to meet social need. The
government must devote more resources to a new deal for housing,
building Britain out of recession.’
Unite is calling for:
- A massive programme of ‘new build, high quality,
environmentally sustainable social housing, including council homes
which would create jobs, meet housing need, and redress the
inequality of social housing in rural areas.
- A comprehensive construction apprenticeship scheme for the
16-24-year olds whose job prospects have diminished during the
recession.
- Investment in a ‘retro-fit’ programme for existing homes to
improve energy efficiency i.e. the seven million homes that require
solid wall insulation. It is estimated that such action could
generate a further 25,000 jobs and would greatly contribute to the
government’s environmental targets.
- The government to use its large stake in the banking sector to
do more to prevent repossessions and strengthen the regulatory
framework.
- Greater support for housing associations to ensure they receive
sufficient funding to provide housing and support for tenants; and
that staff numbers and employment conditions are maintained and
enhanced, as outlined by Unite’s Recession Charter for the Not for
Profit Sector launched in April.
Gail Cartmail, Unite Assistant General Secretary for the Public
Sector said: ‘We believe that if these measures in Building Britain
out of recession were implemented in a coordinated manner the
waiting lists for decent housing would be reduced, much needed jobs
would be created, and the positive impact of a dynamic house
building programme would percolate through to other sectors of the
economy.’
-ends-
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
Journalists are warmly invited to attend the Meeting housing
need: Building Britain out of recession conference at Unite House,
128 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8TN. The event is between
10.30am – 1.00pm on Wednesday, 17 June.
Unite is uniquely placed to comment on the current housing
situation, having as it does members in housing associations, local
government, and the construction and finance sectors.
For further information, please contact:
Jack Dromey 07976 833 362, Gail Cartmail 07768 931 305, Shaun
Noble, Communications Officer 020 7420 8951 or 07768 693
940
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