SOCIAL HOUSING TO BE SOLD AT LONDON AUCTION

SOCIAL HOUSING TO BE SOLD AT LONDON AUCTION

Local Councillors and residents in the Clun area have expressed outrage at the move by the South Shropshire Housing Association (Now part of CONNEXUS) is shortly going to sell 4 homes at Amblecote near Anchor at auction in London to maximise profit on the sale.

Lib Dem Shropshire Councillor for Clun

Heather Kidd, Shropshire Councillor for Worthen and Chirbury and long time affordable housing champion, has challenged Shropshire Council to rapidly ‘get on with the job’ following their announcement last Friday that they are forming a house building company.
Heather said “This looks a very good move. A house building company wholly owned by the Council could deliver where developers are not interested.
” The Council says it will start by building up to 700 houses on land already in the ownership (mainly in the north and centre of the County)of the Council Profits made will then be used to buy land in the south of the County where we are in desperate need.
“This is all great but I have some serious concerns about the time scale for delivery. It could take years before we begin to deliver in rural areas in the South West of the County where there is a crying need for affordable homes for local families.
CASH COW
” There are also some alarming provisos in the Council document (13 December ) suggesting that profits could be returned to the council . This most likely would scupper the whole scheme. The council is in dire straits financially and this company could be used as a cash cow rather than delivering the desperately needed rural housing.
” I challenge the Council to use some capital to pump prime delivery in the rural areas where we need the housing. Take a 10% profit. If they can invest in shopping centres why not housing for the people of Shropshire? As they say all new housing gives them a return in Council Tax and New Homes Bonus.”