Latest news with #LocalAuthorityHousingFund
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Suffolk councils to buy properties in bid to combat homelessness
Two councils are set to spend millions of pounds buying homes to house people facing and Mid Suffolk district councils are putting aside nearly £4m for the councils said the cost of placing people in hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation was becoming "increasingly untenable".Ruth Hendry, cabinet member for housing at Babergh District Council, said: "Not only does placing in bed and breakfasts and hotels make no financial sense, the impact it can have on families, whose lives are already in turmoil, is unmeasurable." Local authorities have the responsibility of finding accommodation for people at risk of homelessness.A report in March said the the authorities supported 158 households with temporary accommodation and had been spending a combined £70,000 a month on hotels and B& Suffolk District Council said demand for temporary housing nearly doubled between 2020 and 2024 while Babergh has seen an increase of 69% in the same Suffolk has put aside £2m of capital funding, and it has £950,000 will come from the government's Local Authority Housing Fund, says the Local Democracy Reporting has just over £1m from the same fund to spend. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council launches plan to ease housing shortages
A Devon council has agreed an annual housing action plan that aims address housing shortages and increased demand for temporary accommodation. The plan, agreed at West Devon Borough Council's hub committee on 11 March, identified a number of projects to help increase the housing stock. The council said it was already working towards a number of recommendations outlined in the Devon Housing Commission report published in July 2024. Councillors also agreed to charge council tax premiums on second homes. The authority said projects which have been identified as part of the action plan include: Three new flats on Plymouth Road in Tavistock to be used as temporary accommodation for homeless households The purchase of eight homes through the Local Authority Housing Fund, with plans for a further three, attracting 40% in government grants for match funding Sixteen new energy efficient lower cost homes in Lifton, delivered by Plymouth Community Homes, with 10 offered for social rent and six through shared ownership Expansion of Pilchers Field in Crapstone, providing five new assisted supported living homes It said they would be delivered through the council's housing and homelessness strategies. From 1 April, councils will be able to charge up to two times the normal council tax on second homes. Agreeing to the scheme, councillors said the money it raises would be set aside to improve housing in the borough. Councillor Mark Renders, hub member for Housing at West Devon Borough Council, said: "We are proud of the work we are doing to help tackle the housing crisis and we remain committed to supporting our residents with their housing needs." Homes bought to ease affordable housing crisis Plans to build 220 homes in North Devon approved Retirement homes to go ahead on old council site West Devon Borough Council
