Brighton & Hove to discuss £74 million housing investment plans

Published by Julien Tremblin for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Local Government

Proposals for a £74.6 million three-year investment programme to tackle Brighton and Hove’s housing crisis will be considered by councillors and tenant representatives.

The proposals – which will be reviewed by the Housing Management Consultative Committee on 6 February – would see new homes built, council homes refurbished and long-term empty homes brought back into use.

The investment is boosted by the £28.5m funding deal agreed in September with Santander and Brighton Hove Seaside and Community Homes.

If the plans are approved, at least 70 long-term empty council homes will be returned to use and 35 new council homes built.

The council says the task of bringing the city’s 12,250 council homes up to 21^st century standards will continue, more council homes will be made more accessible for people with disabilities, and investment in loft conversions will continue to tackle overcrowding.

The programme also aims to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Councillor Liz Wakefield, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The current public spending squeeze means we face a real challenge in dealing with the city’s housing crisis. However, the budget proposals aim to make a real difference.

“We have a chronic shortage of homes in Brighton and Hove and the prospect of more residents facing housing problems.

"As a council we’re determined to build new homes, improve our homes and bring long-term council and private sector empty homes back into use. We are approaching this in an environmentally friendly and sustainable fashion."