Housing isn’t a market, it’s a fundamental human right” agrees Oldham Labour
The Labour Party launched a far-reaching housing policy at its annual conference last month.
Lisa Nandy, Shadow Communities Secretary declared ‘This will be our mantra: council housing, council housing, council housing. We are going to rebuild our social housing stock and bring homes back into the ownership of local councils and communities, with homeownership opened up to millions more.
Security in your home, the right to make your home your own and most of all the right to live in a home fit for human habitation is non-negotiable’
Conservative Government policy means that Oldham Council cannot get help to build homes for social rent unless specialist housing, like Holly Bank Apartments in Limeside built by Oldham Labour for adults with learning disabilities and fully opened in 2021.
Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member responsible for Housing welcomed the policy ‘There are thousands of Oldham families on the Housing Register and hundreds in temporary housing waiting for a home to meet their needs and we desperately need extra social homes for them. The Housing Register has gone up by nearly a quarter in the last year – from 5,698 families to 7,142. We are doing as much as we can using the Housing Revenue Account and flexible housing fund to provide truly affordable homes, but Labour’s policies would mean we could do so much more. Oldham needs lots more good quality green and low carbon homes like the ones we bought on Primrose Bank and are building on Derker and at Southlink. A Labour Government would make this possible.’
Lisa Nandy also promised ‘And for private renters, we will tilt the balance of power back to you through a powerful new renters’ charter and a new decent homes standard – written into law.’ In discussion after her speech, she said that Labour is also looking at leasehold reform looking to end leasehold as a form of tenure – all new build homes would be sold freehold.
Councillor Chadderton added ‘Labour’s housing policy will help everyone in Oldham – private tenants, people paying a social rent, homeless people and homeowners. Oldham Labour has a detailed Housing Strategy to provide good quality affordable homes, to raise standards in the private sector and to make sure that residents have a suitable home at all stages of their life. Oldham’s population is growing and we need homes of all shapes and sizes so people can live in the right home for them and their families. I visited Vernon Gardens in Royton which is a mix of homes for sale, shared ownership and affordable homes for rent bult on a brownfield site. I was really impressed by the quality of all the homes and how quickly people have been able to move in. Labour’s new housing policy would mean we could include social homes in development like this’
