Government to underwrite mortgages
On the face of it this is a really good idea. We desperately need something to bring housing back within the reach of ordinary folk – or a sea change in attitudes to renting. However even with that sea change unless a significant number of additional rural affordable housing units are brought forward there will still be few residential choices for those seeking to live and work in parts of rural England.
The article tells us: The report – Laying The Foundations: A Housing Strategy For England – sets out details of a range of policies to revive the industry and solve the homes shortage, such as boosting right-to-buy council home discounts.
More public land is also being made available for development, and money has been earmarked to bring empty houses back into use.
The £400 million Get Britain Building fund will target housebuilding schemes that have stalled through a lack of development finance The cash injection will also support up to 32,000 jobs, according to officials. It comes on top of a £500 million Growing Places Fund for development announced earlier this month.”