Not for the first time, David Ellesmere presents half truths about housing in his article of 12th May in the Ipswich Star.
First, house prices tripled between 1997 and 2008, whilst house building fell to its lowest level since the 1920’s during Labour’s 13 years in power. The present government inherited this imbalance.
According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, house prices nationally are only now recovering to pre-recession levels– and that recovery is patchy beyond London – house building is predicted to rise by 20% during 2014.
Unfortunately, that will not be the case in Ipswich, where it is becoming virtually impossible for any developer to get planning consent. Less than 100 new homes were built in the town last year, and the largest scheme to receive the go-ahead is for 94 properties, and this won’t even start for several months yet.
Cllr. Ellesmere goes on to complain about the private rented sector (which has expanded in response to demand). He is obviously unaware that the government established a Private Rented Sector Taskforce more than 18 months ago; it has the highest priority, being based in the Cabinet Office. Its remit is to create a sustainable, long term investment programme to provide rented accommodation for the longer term. I suggest Cllr. Ellesmere read a report, ‘Making Renting Viable’ which quotes the Heads of Housing for Croydon and Ealing (a Labour borough) stating, respectively, that ‘the private rented sector is an important component of our local strategy’ and, ‘we see the development of a professional private rented sector as being absolutely vital to support growth across Ealing.’
The councillor responsible for housing in Ipswich, John Mowles, refused to accompany me to see a fantastic project in Ealing for the over 55’s who chose to downsize from family-sized council houses, because, he said, ‘we have nothing to learn from it’. Perhaps he would like to have a rethink! It could have a beneficial impact on our town.
Given his evident opposition to the private rented sector, we have a couple of questions for Cllr. Ellesmere, who owns a house in Hervey St, Ipswich, which he does not occupy, himself. The average rent is over £600 per month for such a property; could he tell us whether he lets it, at what rent, on what terms, and whether he uses an agent.
Judy Terry