Calls for major reform of Gloucester housing strategy
Labour councillors say "we can't go on like this"
Last updated 14th Aug 2024
There are calls for a shake up of housing in Gloucester with the council's opposition saying 4,700 people are on the city council waiting list.
Labour councillors are calling for all housing developments to include homes for social rent, as many are being priced out of owning homes.
They say young people and families in Gloucester have been feeling the effects of a lack of new homes in the city.
They want all new developments to include 30% social housing, up from the current 20%.
Labour group leader Terry Pullen said: “Good quality, decent, and affordable homes are vital to the health and wellbeing of residents across Gloucester.
“Housing brings stability, security and safety, however, for too many this is simply beyond their reach. Many people in Gloucester are being priced out of owning a home, there is a shortage of social housing and private rental costs continue to rise.
“We cannot go on like this – much more needs to be done and we will continue to push the council to make sure our demands are met.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor, Luke Shervey, who leads on housing, said he hopes the new Labour Government will help deliver more housing: “Since being appointed to the cabinet, I have started work reforming how we deliver housing services and ensuring more affordable homes are made available to those on the council waiting list and transform the traditional housing provision we already have through regeneration schemes making Gloucester a great place to live, work and call home.
“With the recent change in Government, I hope to get more support for delivering new affordable housing and improve local housing services which had been stripped to the bone by 14 years of Conservative Government, I look forward to lobbying our two new MPs to deliver for Gloucester.”
Conservative group leader, Stephanie Chambers, who was the previous cabinet member for planning and housing said it is vital that the right housing for Gloucester’s communities is built in the right places.
“Gloucester City’s administrative boundaries have very little space left in them for development and the Conservatives have been working hard to develop as much brownfield land as is possible and were successful in bidding for £2 million of brownfield release funds to ensure the St Oswald’s site can be developed.
“The previous Conservative administration also built 1,354 homes in 2022/22 for Gloucester residents of which 417 were affordable homes. This is the largest number of homes built in a single year since our records began.
“We can all agree we need more housing however, this must be done responsibly to ensure we meet the need of our expanding population whilst also considering the wishes of current communities and of course working with partners in our neighbouring district authorities and Gloucestershire County Council, NHS etc to ensure the necessary infrastructure is developed alongside the housing.
“Housing is needed but cannot be rushed through no matter whatever the cost to our existing residents.”