Ex-Whitehall chief slams right-to-buy housing policy
The former head of the UK civil service, Robert Walker Bob Kerslake has criticized new government plans to extend the “right-to-buy” housing scheme as principally wrong.
Kerslake, who was the most senior mandarin in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) slammed the government plan to extend its flagship right to buy scheme, saying it is wrong and will not solve Britain’s current housing crisis.
The former official, who headed the civil service for two years between 2012 and 2014 said:“I will raise my serious concerns about the policy in its current form. I think it’s wrong in principle and wrong in practice, and it won’t help tackle the urgent need to build more housing and more affordable housing in this country, particularly in London.”
He intends to demand urgent discussions between ministers and housing experts to rethink the controversial policy which has been described as hugely expensive, unworkable and potentially damaging by housing and industry groups such as CBI.
Under the Conservative plans, 1.3 million tenants in housing association homes in England will be able to buy their properties at discounts of up to £104,000 in London and more than £77,000 elsewhere.
London mayor, Boris Johnson has also stood against plans to extend the scheme and said it could be disastrous for the capital.
A spokesman for the mayor said: “He has been clear that the new policy must deliver an overall increase in housebuilding in London, and that all the money generated from selling London homes is retained in the capital to help increase the supply of new homes, particularly affordable homes.”
The Conservatives pledged to secure plans within 100 days of winning the election on how to allow housing association tenants to buy their homes at discount prices. Housing associations have been assured compensation from money made for the discounts.
According to the National Housing Federation, this will create a bill of £5.8bn a year.
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