East Lindsey District Council leader, Craig Leyland, has labelled the government’s ambitious new housing targets as ‘pie in the sky’. Leyland is tackling the powers that be after being informed that his jurisdiction needs to deliver a whopping 130% increase in new homes annually. His argument? The government’s lofty aspirations must be grounded in reality. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government countered, stating Lincolnshire must pull its weight in the national housing drive.
The government is intent on seeing 1.5 million new homes pop up across England before the next General Election rolls around. For Lincolnshire, this translates to an obligatory 1,552 homes annually – a hefty 52% increase on previous targets set by the Tories. Within this, East Lindsey’s share has more than doubled, leaping from 437 to 912 homes per annum. Leyland is scratching his head, seeking clarity on the origin of these figures, claiming the Council is doing its part by granting planning permissions, which developers are not always exploiting. He warns of the difficulties posed by flood risks along the coast and the preservation of the Lincolnshire Wolds’ natural beauty, which he believes makes the targets even more elusive.
20-year-old Evie Capps, a full-time café worker from Horncastle, East Lindsey, is among those who believe more housing is necessary. Despite this, she acknowledges the financial hurdles she’d have to overcome to afford a home.
Local developer Steve Gelder, Founder of the Gelder Group, argues the impracticalities of meeting these targets due to a lack of skilled workforce and a cumbersome planning process.
The housing conundrum is set to be a hot topic in the upcoming Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral elections, with candidates across the political spectrum weighing in. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government insists the targets are essential, given the severity of the ongoing housing crisis, and has pledged to address skills shortages within the construction industry.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
