Farron welcomes Brown's affordable housing pledge

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 6th Nov 2007

Local MP Tim Farron has welcomed the pledge, made today by the Queen during the state opening of parliament, that the Government would be introducing legislation to form a new Government department to deal specifically with the problem of affordable housing. The Queen's Speech detailed the creation of the Homes and Communities Agency that will "deliver more social and affordable housing".

But he has expressed concern that Mr Brown has given no indication of where the land to build those houses will come from - which is a particular problem for rural areas.

Mr Farron, who yesterday called for action to create more affordable housing, said:

"I am pleased with this announcement and I hope it signals a genuine commitment from the Brown Government to affordable housing.

"We need new ideas to ensure that plans for affordable homes for local people become a reality. Ideas like my 'Home on the Farm' scheme, where underused farm buildings could be converted into affordable housing would go a long way to alleviating this very serious problem. I want to see planning law reformed to give local authorities the power to take the initiative on issues such as this."

"In addition, the planning bill outlined in the Queens Speech could - if the Government will accept my proposal - allow local councils to place a limit on the number of second homes in areas such as ours, which would also help in our efforts to find solutions to the affordable housing crisis."