The planning decision to demolish the Foxhill estate will not be called in by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), it’s been revealed.
In a letter from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Alok Sharma MP stated that the decision, which results in the loss of 100 social housing units from Bath, was in line with government policy.
Bath MP, Wera Hobhouse said: “It is perhaps no surprise that the Tories are happy to allow the loss of social housing from Bath, but I am not.
Across the country the demand for social housing is rising rapidly, yet the provision is failing to keep up.
“Here is a regeneration project, approved by the local Conservative Group, that reduces social housing in Bath. Where are these people to go?
“I think it is shameful that they should simply be moved out of the city. That’s why I wrote to ask for it to be called-in.
“So now the ball is firmly back in the Council’s court. We should be fighting to increase social housing provision in Bath, yet here we are fighting to stop the loss of our existing stock. The Government have suggested that Councils can borrow to build, and we absolutely must take advantage of that offer.
“I am willing to support any proposal that the Council puts to DCLG, that could result in BaNES being able to secure the funding for social homes. I stand ready to work with the Conservative Group to champion any such a proposal in Westminster.”
LibDem group leader Dine Romero said: “We’re all now calling for Bob Goodman, the Conversative spokesperson on Housing, and Combe Down Ward Councillor, to give a firm commitment that he will fight the loss of social housing from Bath.
“We need him to outline how he will be taking up this offer from central government, to secure the additional funding needed for Foxhill and stop any loss of social housing from Bath.”
Wera Hobhouse continued: “We now have to face the fact that this regeneration project is going ahead. It has been approved by the Tories locally and nationally.
“So now we must work to deliver the best outcomes for local residents. I will be meeting with Curo and the Foxhill Residents’ Association again in the coming days, to ensure that that the continuing dialogue grows and expands into an engaging and productive consultation process for the residents.”
