Our area is one of the most popular places to live and work in the whole country. Our local economy is one of the few outside of London that pays more into the Exchequer in taxes than it takes out in Government spending. This is all good news, but it means that demand for housing is still increasing, driving up house prices and leaving our most vulnerable and needy people struggling to put a roof over their own heads. The only solution to this problem is to build more homes.
The average first time buyer is over 30 by the time they are able to purchase their own bricks and mortar, significantly over 30 without help from the Bank of Mum and Dad. Given that in the ‘60s the average first time buyer was 23, it should come as no surprise that this is causing significant social pressure to build up. In South Gloucestershire, homelessness is less of a problem than in Bristol, but nevertheless the total number of homeless applications accepted by the Council in the first half of this civic year is nearly twice the number accepted in the entirety of last year, which is clearly unacceptable.
There is a clear strategy in the Joint Strategic Plan to meet the West of England’s growing housing needs, and to deliver 105,000 homes in the next 20 years. Some would argue that even this number is not enough. The plan has been submitted for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate, with more hearings scheduled for September and October. This is a pioneering approach which is the product of many years’ careful cooperation between Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire Councils. Whilst it won’t be without challenges, this plan represents our best opportunity to ensure that we can provide homes for all who need them.
In order to deliver this housing, we will also need significant improvements in our transport systems, it is all very well having homes to live in, but if you can’t get to work, or to the shops, or around generally, with relative ease, then your quality of life will be affected. That is why I am very pleased to hear that our West of England Mayor Tim Bowles along with colleagues on the West of England Combined Authority have secured £57m to extend the very successful Metrobus project. The Cribbs-Patchway Metrobus Extension will serve the new housing on the Filton Airfield as well as existing communities between Stoke Gifford and the Mall at Cribbs Causeway and major employers such as the Horizon 38 business park and Rolls Royce. Perhaps most importantly of all, the extension will connect Bristol Parkway to the Metrobus network, which will allow people to travel to and from South Gloucestershire and Bristol conveniently by public transport.
From a national perspective, in 2017-18 alone, 222,000 new homes have been built. This is progress, representing a number which has only been topped once in the last 31 years. However, much more needs to be done and I am encouraged that an extra £2 billion has been allocated for the Affordable Homes Programme, bringing the total funding to over £9 billion. This programme will deliver at least 250,000 more affordable homes by 2022, a good number of which will be in the South Gloucestershire area.
We all reap the benefits from living and working in South Gloucestershire, but we can’t stand still as house prices become increasingly unaffordable. Our children and our most vulnerable deserve the chance to have a home they can afford to live in. How will future generations judge us if their inheritance is unaffordable housing costs and being forced to live at home well into adulthood?
