Use boats to ease housing crisis, minister says . . .
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EcoTort Theatre
Aug 27, 2011, 3:55:04 AM8/27/11
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8725138/Use-boats-to-ease-housing-crisis-minister-says.html
Local authorities should encourage residents to live on boats to ease Britain’s lack of affordable housing, the Housing Minister has said.
By James Hall, Consumer Affairs Editor
7:00AM BST 27 Aug 2011
Grant Shapps said that boats with residential moorings could be used to allow people to live in areas of the country where they could not afford to do so otherwise.
Around 15,000 people live on the UK’s waterways and many more “would like to do so”, the minister said. Half the population live within five miles one of Britain’s waterways.
Mr Shapps said that new moorings could be eligible for the Government’s New Homes Bonus, meaning that councils could receive funds to invest in waterside areas.
The UK’s current housing shortage requires around 60,000 new homes to be built per quarter for the shortfall to be met. Mr Shapps said that houseboats are an example of how “unconventional housing” can be used to tackle the crisis.
“Whilst they will never overtake bricks and mortar in putting a roof over the heads of families, innovative new ways of housing families – such as residential moorings – play an important role in allowing people to live near to their place of work, children’s school, or family, and where perhaps they would not be able to afford to otherwise,” said Mr Shapps.
Local authorities should encourage residents to live on boats to ease Britain’s lack of affordable housing, the Housing Minister has said.
By James Hall, Consumer Affairs Editor
7:00AM BST 27 Aug 2011
Grant Shapps said that boats with residential moorings could be used to allow people to live in areas of the country where they could not afford to do so otherwise.
Around 15,000 people live on the UK’s waterways and many more “would like to do so”, the minister said. Half the population live within five miles one of Britain’s waterways.
Mr Shapps said that new moorings could be eligible for the Government’s New Homes Bonus, meaning that councils could receive funds to invest in waterside areas.
The UK’s current housing shortage requires around 60,000 new homes to be built per quarter for the shortfall to be met. Mr Shapps said that houseboats are an example of how “unconventional housing” can be used to tackle the crisis.
“Whilst they will never overtake bricks and mortar in putting a roof over the heads of families, innovative new ways of housing families – such as residential moorings – play an important role in allowing people to live near to their place of work, children’s school, or family, and where perhaps they would not be able to afford to otherwise,” said Mr Shapps.
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