|
The figures are good news for people on reduced income because
412 (just over 39 per cent) of the total new homes were mostly built
for housing associations to be offered at affordable rents. This
total was around double the figure for each of the previous two
years (202 in 2007/08 and 213 in 2006/07) and 25 per cent higher
than the 327 affordable home completions for the entire five years
from 2001/02 to 2005/06.
At the end of March (2009) another 412 ‘affordable’ homes were
under construction, with a further 366 having planning permission
but not yet under construction.
Peterborough’s situation contrasts starkly with a report from the
East of England Regional Assembly, which shows the region
experienced a massive 20 per cent fall in house completions (down to
17,680 homes) and a 46 per cent fall in starts on new constructions
(down to 11,590 homes) in 2008/09.
Councillor Piers Croft, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet
member for strategic planning and growth, welcomed the figures as
another sign of Peterborough’s underlying economic resilience.
“Under government plans Peterborough is expected to provide at
least 25,000 new homes in the 20-year period from 2001 to 2021,” he
said. “Despite the recession, we are doing our best to fulfil
Peterborough’s potential by encouraging growth across the whole
economy.
“Providing new homes for a growing population is an important
element in our overall growth aspirations. However, we are also
working on plans to deliver the whole package encompassing jobs,
shopping, leisure and community facilities and an improved transport
infrastructure.
“Nearly three-quarters (756 or 72 per cent) of the new homes were
built on previously developed ‘brownfield’ land, which is much
higher than the national target of 60 per cent and supports our
growing reputation as the UK’s environment capital.”
Peterborough is also well placed to benefit from future growth in
the housing market. Developers currently have outstanding planning
permission for a further 9,318 homes (6,176 with outline permission
and 3,142 with full permission). These are primarily at Hampton
(2,635), Hempsted (473), Stanground South (1,525) and Paston Reserve
(1,122).
However, Peterborough is not immune to the recession and there
are also signs of caution among developers. The number of
outstanding permissions is actually 605 lower than the same time in
2008 and planning permissions on 131 homes actually lapsed in 2008 -
the highest number for several years.
July 2009 -
Peterborough UK Community Website
|
