Stumbling block for ambitious ‘homes for £100,000’ scheme in Peterborough

Members of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Housing and Communities Committee have deferred their approval of an allocation policy for the much advertised £100k housing policy at their meeting this week (Monday, June 22).

People in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have urged to show their support for £100K Homes via a new website for the scheme which makes one-bedroom properties available to buy for £100,000 launched by the Combined Authority earlier this year.

Driven by Mayor James Palmer, £100K Homes aims to offer an affordable step on to the housing ladder for those who live or work in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

£100K Homes are a response to the local housing crisis, which is seeing large numbers of working people struggling or unable to afford to buy a home. A key objective of £100K Homes is to allow people to live close to where they work and stay in communities where they may have strong connections.
At Monday’s meeting Cllr Bridget Smith (LibDem, South Cambridgeshire District Council) said: “I have very serious concerns about our allocation policy for persons wanting to apply for the £100k homes that we have made so much fuss about.
“For example: what would stop somebody from temporarily hiding their assets – say in an offshore account – then pleading poverty in order to pass the application process for one of our £100k homes?
“As far as I can see we have nothing to prevent this from happening. Having then acquired the home for £100k they could sell it on at a later date for a huge profit?
“I know this is an extreme example, but it could happen and I just don’t think we’ve given enough credence to the possibility of somebody wanting to take advantage of our good will, building these units, selling them at £100k and then unscrupulous persons taking advantage of us by selling them on later at a huge profit to them – that That wasn’t the idea at all.
“While Mayor Palmer basks in the glory of advertising homes for just £100k I seriously think this committee should withdraw the paper for more consideration just so we get this policy right, because if we get it wrong there will be a dreadful backlash from the not only the public whose money we’re spending, but the government also.”
Cllr Ryan Fuller (Conservative, Huntingdonshire District Council) agreed, saying: “I have to say that I agree entirely with Cllr Smith. There are simply too many loopholes in this allocation policy as it stands for us to take chances with allowing these dwellings to go to persons without a lot more scrutiny.
“I propose that we temporarily withdraw this agenda item until our next meeting in September, so that we can look at more carefully, let our scrutiny committee members also look it over and make absolutely certain that what we intend to get out of this policy is correctly administered.”
Cllrs voted unanimously to withdraw the Agenda item that dealt with the Allocation Policy for the £100k homes.
The Statutory acceptable Nationally Described Space Standard (NDSS) deals with internal space within new dwellings and is suitable for application across all tenures.
It sets out requirements for the Gross Internal (floor) Area of new dwellings at a defined level of occupancy as well as floor areas and dimensions for key parts of the home, notably bedrooms, storage and floor to ceiling height where 100% would equate to the maximum possible size for a level of comfort in occupation.
The standard has also determined a cut-off minimum of 85% of the requirement as being ‘significantly too small’ for decent levels of comfort in occupation.
After the meeting Cllr Lucy Nethsingha (Leader of the LibDem Group, Cambridgeshire County Council, Chair Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Scrutiny Committee and former MEP for East of England) although not attending, said: “I’ve been monitoring this online and I too have very serious concerns about what is going on here.
“I am very relieved that the housing committee has chosen to withdraw this paper and take it back for further work.
“There were a large number of major concerns raised in the meeting, and I personally am shocked that a paper with so many problems was brought forward for decision at all.
“I fear this was rushed forward for political reasons, by the Mayor, and am glad the councillors on the committee were not willing to be bounced into a decision.”
The Allocation Policy will be re-submitted at the next meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee on 14 September.