Affordable housing shortfall

Although the Council's target for new affordable homes completed in 2008/2009 is expected to be met, the number of new starts expected on site has fallen alarmingly.

At a recent Council meeting, it was confirmed that the number of new affordable homes expected to be completed in Epsom & Ewell in 2008/2009 is 93, including 65 social rented homes. However the number of new affordable homes where work on site is anticipated to start in 2008/2009 is expected to fall to just 16, compared to an earlier forecast of 200.

Cllr Elaine Britten had asked about government schemes to enable continued construction of rented social housing, where developers were unable to continue building open market housing due to the drop in demand. A number of comments had been made by government spokesmen, following the Lib Dem proposals put forward by Vince Cable MP in September.

It was made clear that no such scheme was currently available, but if one were launched that did not entail expenditure that could not be contained within budget, the council would "adopt a prudent but compassionate approach".

In reply to Cllr Colin Taylor it was confirmed that this would be done promptly, if and when any such government funded scheme were launched.