Housing
A home is a basic need for everyone. Homes also serve as the foundation for many things that society aims to support and develop.
| The Peoples Party must: |
|---|
| undertake a massive house building programme ensuring that good quality eco-friendly houses are built which are affordable for people to buy with mortgages based on average salaries |
| stimulate the construction of at least 500,000 new homes a year with an average purchase cost of £100,000 |
| commission a range of high-quality, customisable "Peoples Houses" that are eco-friendly, affordable, efficient and desirable homes to live in |
| establish a National Construction Corps to address worker shortages giving people vital skills in building, plumbing and electrical installations |
| use the planning powers of government to compulsorily purchase agricultural land at its market value to make sure that nothing gets in the way of this objective |
| ensure that the cost of an average building plot is no more than £2,000 |
| simplify and speed up the process of buying and selling a home |
| provide help to tenants who are seeking to buy properties, ensuring that people are not trapped indefinitely in rental properties |
| abolish the requirement to get planning permission in most cases, replacing existing rules with simple rights such as the right to a view and light. Facilitate the upgrade of buildings by abolishing Grade II listings and conservation areas |
| actively encourage eco-friendly new builds in the countryside and simplify building control requirements |
| encourage more intensive use of existing plots, including the demolition of older single houses and their replacement with multiple eco dwellings |
| make it illegal to discriminate against the self-employed in mortgage applications |
| facilitate older people leaving larger houses with attractive downsizing options |
| ensure that everyone has somewhere to live, come what may. The principle is that the State will always help you to get safe accommodation in which to stay |
Access to housing is essential for both national and personal prosperity. Affordable homes should be available in suitable locations to support mobility and employment needs. Young people in their 20s and 30s should not have to live with their parents.
For far too many people, owning a home or even affording the rent for suitable accommodation is an impossible dream. This must change. We need to significantly increase the supply of houses and promote home ownership. It is absurd that the average house costs ten times the average salary.
We must replicate the Victorian terraced housing scheme by delivering a variety of well-designed, high-quality, eco-friendly homes that cost no more than an average of £100,000 each. To do this, we need to promote green housing developments on land previously used for farming. The land’s agricultural value should solely determine the plot price. Currently, the high cost of plots significantly increases house prices. In addition to the building programme, it is essential to provide supporting infrastructure and facilities.