Right to Buy Adding To North West Housing Crisis

OVER 5,000 affordable homes were sold through Right to Buy last year in the North West, more than double the number of new homes that were provided according to the National Housing Federation. In 2007 there were over 212,000 households on housing waiting lists, close to half a million people.

The Federation found over 46,938 affordable homes had been sold off under the government's "right to buy" programme in the North West between 2000 and 2007. 

They are calling on ministers to consider introducing a temporary ban on new tenants buying their rented homes after new figures revealed twice as many affordable homes were sold off than were built in England over the last 8 years.

The mass sell off of council houses at heavily discounted rates has also seen the entire stock of affordable homes in England slump by more than 300,000 over the last 8 years and is no longer sustainable, the Federation warns.  North West Local Authorities with the highest number of council homes sold off between 2000/2007.

Sallie Bridgen, National Housing Federation North West Regional Manager said:- "The right to buy policy has unquestionably been a massive success for those who have been able to take advantage of massive discounts. But half a million people are currently stuck on waiting lists in the North West.  House building has come to a standstill because of the credit crunch. With demand predicted to rocket again there will simply not be enough social homes available.  To allow the affordable housing stock to recover we must consider suspending the right to buy for all new tenants in order to ease the North West housing crisis."

 LEAGUE CLUBS TO VOTE ON ‘HOME GROWN PLAYERS’ RULE

FOOTBALL League clubs are to consider the introduction of a ‘Home Grown Players’ rule at the forthcoming meeting of clubs at Derby County on December 18. Clubs will vote in a specially arranged EGM, with the changes, if approved, set to take effect from the beginning of next season.

In announcing the proposals Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said:- “We believe it is time for The Football League to make a clear and unequivocal statement of intent about the importance of developing young players in the domestic game.”

The new rule would require at least 4 players from clubs’ sixteen man matchday squads to have been registered domestically, for a minimum of 3 seasons, prior to their 21st birthday.

Mawhinney said:- “The aim is to establish this principle by setting a threshold that our clubs can accommodate and then to consider raising that level over time.  It is important we demonstrate that, as a body of clubs, our commitment to youth development is total,” he continued. “Therefore, not only are we pulling out all the stops to develop these young players in the first place, we are also ensuring that they have the opportunity to show their talent in the first team.  14 of the 23-man England squad that beat Germany in Berlin, last week, were developed by youth development programmes at Football League clubs. Looking ahead, we want to increase that proportion even further.”

The proposal, which is being put forward by The Football League Board of Directors, is in line with the approach favoured by UEFA rather than the ‘6+5’ approach being proposed by FIFA. The Board has concerns over the legality of the latter in European law. This means that players will be considered as ‘home grown’ regardless of their nationality.

Mawhinney believes the adoption of a ‘Home Grown Players’ rule will send out a positive message to supporters and the wider game. He said:- “Local fans watching locally developed players at their local club is at the very heart of what The Football League is all about. I believe that by introducing this rule League clubs, once again, will be taking a lead that others will want to follow.”

Young players schooled at Football League clubs are making a growing contribution to the national team. Around half of the players chosen to represent England - across all age groups - in the most recent round of international matches were developed, in full or in part, at League clubs.