Land grab for housing angers National Trust
I enjoyed my trip to Clumber Park with the old black lab on Bank Holiday Monday. I was reflecting how well the National Trust had the place set up and running and I was happy to part with £5.50 for our day in sun. Then I saw this thought provoking article. Continuing a theme I have run in Hinterland about their lobbying activities previously this article makes me further reflect on how outside their role of performing their principle function (looking after over 300 visitor attractions) the Trust are becoming a very “angry” environmental lobbyist. Attempts to get the housing market moving again have drawn their criticism this week as this article, starting with the thoughts of Housing Minister Grant Shapps explains.
“We are reforming the planning system which is massively complex and very, very slow. The Government’s aspiration is to meet people’s aspirations and lots of people still want to own their own homes. I think it is the Government’s responsibility to try and help people meet their aspirations.”
But the NHF warned of a bleak outlook due to under-supply of homes. Chief executive, David Orr, said: “With home ownership in decline, rents rising rapidly and social housing waiting lists at a record high, it’s time to face up to the fact that we have a totally dysfunctional housing market.
“Home ownership is increasingly the preserve of the wealthy and, in parts of the country likeLondon, the very wealthy. And for the millions locked out of the property market the options are becoming increasingly limited as demand sends rents rising sharply and social homes waiting lists remain at record levels.”
A National Trust spokeswoman claimed it was not the laws that were to blame for the low level of house building, but the economy. She said: “We are not against house building. But in our view changing the planning laws risks creating a free for all where development is presumed without any regard to sustainability.”