David Cameron’s conference speech today will include plans to increase home ownership, which has become a personal mission of both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor. The Tories convinced that people are more likely to vote for them if they are homeowners, and are well aware of polling that shows most people want to own their home in this country. So David Cameron will overhaul planning rules that his advisers believe slow down development – the section 106 requirements that mean developers must include affordable homes for rent in their plans – so that more homes that people can afford to buy are built.
This reform will see the Tories trying to rebrand ‘affordable housing’. Cameron will say:
‘For years, politicians have been talking about building what they call ‘affordable homes’ – but the phrase was deceptive. It basically meant homes that were only available to rent. What people want are homes they can actually own.’
The Tory leader will declare 2010-2020 the ‘turnaround decade’ and announce a ‘dramatic shift in housing policy in our country’ which means developers can build affordable homes for purchase, not just rent, as part of those planning gain agreements.
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