The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to address the housing shortage in Cambridge and build more affordable homes.
There are currently 2,193 families in Cambridge on a waiting list for council homes. In addition, official figures show almost 200 homes in the city have been empty for over six months.
The Liberal Democrats would introduce a legal requirement for smaller housing developments to include affordable homes, make it easier for local authorities and housing associations to borrow money to build council houses and affordable homes, and set up a new government-backed Housing and Infrastructure Development Bank.
The party would allow local authorities to hike up council tax on empty homes by up to 200%, including second homes. Local authorities could also choose to impose penalties on developers who leave plots of land empty for over 3 years, to tackle so-called land-banking.
Liberal Democrat candidate Julian Huppert commented:
“Cambridge desperately needs more affordable homes and it is a scandal that over 2,000 families are struggling to find a decent and affordable place to call home.
“Many young people in the city are finding it impossible to get on to the housing ladder, often leaving them with no choice but to rent in the private sector with few protections against rent rises and high fees. At the same time, homes are sitting empty and plots of land bought by developers are not being used.
“I recently visited the Hundred Houses Society with Tim Farron to see the brilliant work they’re doing to provide social and affordable housing in Cambridge. But we need to do more and that’s why we are setting out radical plans to fix the housing crisis.
"A Conservative landslide would allow the government to take people for granted, meaning years more of soaring rents and failure to build enough affordable housing.
"The market is clearly broken and has failed to deliver. But a better future is available, vote Liberal Democrat and we can build the affordable homes Cambridge urgently needs.”
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