Wolverhampton Council Leader States Housing Market is “Completely Broken”

Stephen Simkins, the leader of Wolverhampton’s local authority, has declared that the city’s housing market is “completely broken” and that only a “mass build” can resolve the situation. Mr. Simkins identified the scarcity of housing as his “biggest concern as leader,” noting that the council’s housing stock had been diminished by the right-to-buy scheme in the 1980s. He indicated that his Labour-run authority intends to utilize brownfield sites and expressed approval for the government’s pledge to construct 1.5 million new residences. The government had announced in August its objective to deliver these homes within the subsequent five years, facilitated by planning reforms, the allocation of green belt land, and the reinstatement of mandatory housing targets for local authorities. Mr. Simkins further mentioned that housing-related matters constituted the largest portion of his workload. “I welcome the government to say that we want to build houses,” he stated, adding, “We’re ready in Wolverhampton to build them to resolve the issues.” Additionally, Labour’s election manifesto included commitments to update the National Policy Planning Framework, reinstate mandatory housing targets, and achieve the most significant expansion in social and affordable housebuilding seen in a generation. To accomplish these objectives, the party indicated it would prioritize construction on previously-developed brownfield land initially, but would also release lower-quality green belt land that is currently protected, if deemed necessary. Mr. Simkins affirmed that Wolverhampton possesses ample brownfield land, but emphasized the necessity of government funding, channeled via the West Midlands Combined Authority, for its development. He acknowledged that it would not be a “simple fix,” but asserted: “We want people to thrive in our city.” He concluded by stating: “If you want to resolve the issues on the NHS, give people a decent place to live.” Updates from BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country are available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external sites. Details on their external linking policy can be accessed.