Housing Solicitors

Suffolk Coastal Council has announced a £1.68 million boost in funding for affordable homes in the area.

The funding was agreed at a council cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 2 February.
The council is also in the process of appointing a Housing Enabling Officer to work with communities and developers to address the shortage of affordable homes locally.

Suffolk Coastal’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing, Councillor Richard Kerry, said:

“Put simply, the current system is not working and does not meet the needs of this council or local people – we need to invest in unlocking the develop potential of this area.

“This is a complex area where, even when we do our part by giving developers planning permission, we cannot force them to build – so many affordable homes are not built, despite our best efforts.

“The combination of high property values, increased aspirations to live in the countryside and limited development of new homes have all resulted in many local households being unable to afford to stay within the rural community, where they grew up and have their support networks.

“Suffolk Coastal has decided to take a bold, innovative approach to the situation by investing £1.68 million and bringing in specialist staff to work with communities and developers, to deliver the right type of housing in the right places to meet local people’s needs.”

The £1.68m is Section 106 money, which the council has accumulated from previous developments in the area. The council is planning not to build new council houses, but to invest the funding in developments and then sell the properties and free up more funding for future investments.

Cllr Kerry added:

“Suffolk Coastal may effectively become a developer, buying land to build affordable homes on, getting them built – and then selling them to the people that need them.

“These are not likely to be big developments, but smaller, bespoke ones to help build stronger communities and address their needs.

“We will be working closely with communities, Town and Parish Councils – as well as developers – to re-invest the Section 106 money to stimulate the local housing property market.

“This is an exciting new radical initiative for Suffolk Coastal – and shows our commitment to making things happen in this area.

“It is not about a ‘one size fits all’ approach, but bringing the developers, councils and communities together, to provide the type of homes and developments that the communities need to meet their requirements.”

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise on a wide range of housing law –
and offer competitively priced conveyancing services to homebuyers, including guiding first-time buyers through the conveyancing process.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across the UK and our housing team are also able to advise on:

• Debt management for homeowners
• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlords’ obligations
• Landlord and tenant disputes
• Lease extensions
• Local Authority housing
• Mortgage repossession
• Notice to quit
• Nuisance neighbours
• Right to Buy
• Right to Rent checks
• Tenancy agreements
• Unlawful eviction.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.