Social Housing and Eco-Towns
1st July 2008
Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con): Will the Housing Minister undertake to examine objectively the cost of providing affordable houses in the eco-towns? If it turns out that they are much more expensive than affordable housing elsewhere, will that not drain the budget and make it much more difficult to meet the Government’s overall target for affordable housing?
Caroline Flint: I will take that as support for affordable housing in eco-towns. Of course we look at price issues. I have said that the eco-towns should aim for at least 30 per cent. affordable housing, which could be for rent but will also include low-cost home ownership. That demonstrates the fact that, along with our aims on other fronts such as public transport and the environmental sustainability of eco-town projects, affordable housing is very important to this Government in any development, including eco-towns.