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Govt announces £8bn housing shake-up

Friday, 24 December 2004 12:00 AM

The government announced an £8 billion shake-up of the country's housing last night including investment in affordable housing and measures to stop land bought for development from being left unused.

In a speech to MPs yesterday housing minister Yvette Cooper outlined proposals for three million homes by 2020, which includes provisions for building 45,000 homes for social housing and 70,000 affordable houses per year.

The government will also consult with local authorities on how to bring homes that have remained empty back into use through new measures.

There are also a series of new organisations being set up to tackle housing issues, including 14 independent, non-profit Community Land Trusts that will work on boosting the supply and financing of affordable housing.

Measures for the building of environmentally-friendly homes were also announced, with local councils and developers encouraged to submit proposals for "at least five" eco-towns, supported by a government-led competition to boost the architectural standards of the new developments.

By 2016 all new homes have to be zero carbon, which is explained as being when the net carbon emissions for all energy use in the home are zero over one year.

"This includes energy use from cooking, washing and electronic entertainment appliances as well as space heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and hot water," the green paper explains.

Up until 2016 there are two targets for new homes to be 25 per cent more carbon efficient by 2010, and 44 per cent more carbon efficient by 2013.

There are also plans to make the UK 20 per cent more water efficient, though no specific date has been set for this target.

And in the wake of the worst floods for 60 years, the green paper also states there will be "new planning policy protecting new homes from flooding".

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