Derek Thomas introduced a debate in Westminster Hall on affordable housing, making a powerful speech about the difficulties people in Cornwall are having finding a place to live.
Westminster Hall Debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues. Members apply for a debate on a topic in which they are particularly concerned, which are then allocated by a ballot arranged by the Speaker's Office. While these debates do not make new laws, a government minister has to respond to the issues raised – in this case Chris Pincher from the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities – which means MPs can push issues up the political agenda.
Derek said:
“I’m glad to have secured this debate as the severity of the housing situation in Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly requires urgent intervention.
“Whilst access to affordable housing for working families is not a new difficulty it has become a whole lot more difficult in the past two years.
Derek believes that the situation is too important to be left to market forces.
“I’m aware that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up plans to bring forward revised proposals to address the problems faced by hundreds of thousands of people who need housing across the country… There is no better way to ‘level up’ then to ensure people have a secure home of their own. Secure homes equal secure communities equals secure rural schools, secure services such as post offices, GP practices, bus routes and the survival of pubs and churches.
“The Government’s plans must speed up the delivery of homes that are genuinely secure and genuinely affordable. Cash that goes to councils for housing must be spent on housing not endless meetings and draft proposals.”
Derek’s speech included bold plans to revitalise housebuilding and ensure that affordable homes are available for local people in Cornwall, including using Homes England to pay on results, allowing local councils to require new housing to be restricted to principal residences, forcing councils to allow novel housing delivery models such as rent to buy, incentivising landlords to sell to their tenants rather than as holiday lets or second homes, a licence scheme so that properties cannot change use to become holiday lets, charging council tax on all homes irrespective of use, and creating locally-led development corporations to deliver jobs, homes and economic growth.
Alongside, Derek tackled the issue of planning enforcement: new homes need to be built, but not at the expense of the environment. Cornwall Council’s enforcement team is overwhelmed and under resourced, and Derek pressed the government for additional powers for “on-the-spot” fines for planning breaches.
Derek concluded:
“This is the time to be bold – to apply some blue sky thinking and demonstrate that the Government is on the side of those who we have in the pasted described as ‘just about managing’.
“Right now, on Cornwall and Scilly, they are not managing.”
Matt Pennycock, the Shadow Housing Minister, praised Derek’s speech for speaking “with great clarity and persuasiveness about the severe housing pressures in [Cornwall], as well as setting out a number of interesting proposals that merit further consideration”.
The Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, Minister of State for Housing Strategy, also thanked Derek for his “thoughtful contribution” and promised that the government would be “considering very carefully” Derek’s recommendations.
