Homes for Heroes – A major new report sponsored by QSix
QSix has been privileged to co-fund a major piece of research which has been released today. This report, called “Homes for Heroes,” has been published by the Centre for Policy Studies, the UK’s leading center right think-tank, and co-authored by author Alex Morton, a former No 10 housing adviser.
Homes for Heroes’ would be a new type of housing to help key workers, in both the public and private sectors. It would also help to increase the supply of new homes overall, the Government’s objective from planning reforms. This approach would complement the Government’s new FirstHome product to boost ownership over the rest of this decade.
The report argues that new local plans as currently proposed by government should ensure that land for 50,000 homes a year should be set aside for Homes for Heroes across England, giving a total of 250,000 such homes across the five-year land supply that Government is aiming for, while helping key workers into ownership.
Homes for Heroes would encourage private investors to work with local councils, delivering affordable homes for key workers. A large proportion of all homes on any of these sites should offer a lower-cost path to home ownership, such as shared ownership or rent to buy, with the remainder dedicated to good quality family rental property.
The report also suggests that the definition of ‘key worker’ should be expanded, subject to government consultation, with a focus on those who had to keep working in critical, public-facing roles throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and include all relevant private sector workers as well as public sector workers. In other countries, the definition has been wider (e.g. construction workers in the USA are classed as key workers).
Mike Hilton, CEO of QSix Commented:
‘As a nation, we owe an immeasurable amount to our frontline heroes who have kept us safe and the country moving during this pandemic, and the very least they deserve is help getting access to good quality homes in the places where they live and work. For those wishing to get on the housing ladder, Homes for Heroes can offer an affordable and flexible path to home ownership.
‘Now is the time for the country to address this balance through modest changes to planning guidance and provide Homes for Heroes at no upfront cost to the taxpayer.
‘Through close partnerships with national and local governments, this initiative would not only be a signal of our national gratitude to these workers but would also help boost the supply of quality housing across the UK more broadly. We have been delighted to support the CPS in their work and urge everyone to consider its proposals”
A copy of the CPS “Homes for Heroes” report can be accessed here: https://www.cps.org.uk/research/homes-for-heroes
