Local families hit hard by desperate shortage of affordable homes

A CHELMSLEY Wood councillor has said that radical action is needed to address a desperate housing “crisis” in the borough.
James Burn, the leader of the Greens on Solihull Council, said that he typically took a couple of calls a week from concerned residents, who have often been brought to tears by the situation they face.
With thousands of families on the waiting list, Coun Burn (pictured below) said that only a massive social housing programme could solve the problems.
He highlighted the case of one local family who are currently in private rented accommodation, but with the levels of rent spiralling upwards they are at risk of losing the property.
“They have been registered with the council and waiting for a home since January 2014. One family member has a disability that is getting worse.

“I come across people who have been sofa surfing for three years, families living in incredibly cramped and damp conditions and more. They come to me as they just can’t believe that there are no homes available. But that’s the reality of it.”
At a recent public meeting at St Barnabas Church, Kingshurst, both Meriden’s MP, Dame Caroline Spelman, and representatives of Solihull Council acknowledged there was an urgent need to identify sites for new homes.
Coun Tony Dicicco, cabinet member for stronger communities and partnerships, said that the council was trying to balance protecting the green belt with ensuring there were more “affordable” properties.
“Solihull’s got to take more on,” he admitted.
But residents’ anger over the Babbs Mill development has arguably been made worse by the fact that the dwellings being built on land, which was formerly part of the Local Nature Reserve, are well out of the price range of local people.
Similarly, as the council begins to earmark development sites as part of its latest Local Plan, questions have already been raised about the affordability of the properties which will be incorporated into the new-look Kingshurst Parade.
On a national level, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, this month announced £2billion a year extra for a new generation of council housing.
She said: “Whether you’re trying to buy your own, renting privately and looking for more security, or have been waiting for years on a council list, help is on its way.”
Coun Burn said that he welcomed the announcement made at the Conservatives’ Autumn Conference, but argued the funding would be “a drop in the ocean”, with suggestions it would deliver only 5,000 extra homes a year