Housing review ‘vindicates’ deputy who fought for it
THE deputy behind the housing market review says she feels vindicated by its findings, but disappointed with how long it took to get there.
It has been more than two years since South-East deputy Heidi Soulsby laid an amendment directing the then Housing and Treasury & Resources departments to carry out a broad-based review of the local housing market.
Released last week, the independent report from KPMG said a maximum of 157 additional housing units are needed per year – around half of the States’ current housing target.
It concluded that first-time buyers should be assisted onto the housing ladder through actions such as the removal of document duty, with which Deputy Soulsby agreed.
‘I’m pleased that the report has concluded that action is required beyond just looking at the supply side, which is what the former Housing Department thought was the only solution two years ago,’ she said.
‘It is of no surprise at all that the housing target is lower than was previously calculated.
‘This vindicates the decision of the previous Assembly to reject the Housing Department’s proposed strategic housing target and proves what I stated at the time, that there was no evidence behind it.’
However, Deputy Soulsby was critical of how long the process has taken and the lack of action that has resulted from it.
‘At the same time it is disappointing that we have had to wait two years to get a report that says something needs to be done,’ she said.
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