Estates Gazette Q&A
Stephen Williams, minister for Communities and Local Government
Of the policies that you have had involvement with, which are you most proud of?
I’ve overseen two major changes in housing regulation. Firstly, building regulations on energy efficiency of new homes have been tightened in April 2014 and will tighten again next year when all new homes will be built to a “zero carbon” standard. Reduced energy consumption will be good for carbon emissions and also for tackling fuel poverty. Secondly, there’s been the housing standards review. This has rationalised a plethora of local standards into a coherent suite, which will help house builders to conform to nationally laid out standards. In particular, there is a new space standard, which can be adopted by local councils.
What are your biggest regrets?
I disagree with the details of some aspects of welfare reform, in particular the reduction of housing benefit for people in under-occupied social housing. It is right in principle that housing benefit, which is funded from taxes on other people, should cover only the space that someone actually needs. But where there are no suitable units of smaller accommodation available, then it is unfair to penalise tenants. The Liberal Democrats will change this rule.
What would you have done differently if your party had won a majority?
Coalition has been good for stable government but it obviously presents more of a challenge to the smaller party. We have learned a lot in the past five years and are ready for government in the next parliament.
Do you have faith that enough has been done to address the housing crisis?
A good start has been made after the construction industry crash. But house building at about 140,000 units in the past year is not enough. The Lib Dems in government have insisted on a major affordable homes building programme. I’ve also introduced a lot of new regulations to help private sector tenants.
At what point would you concede that green belt land needs to be relinquished?
Protection should be considered for farmland and areas of special nature interest.
With further cuts on the way, how do you expect planning departments to cope?
I want local government to be able to raise more local taxes, with full control of council tax and retention of business rates.
Do you wish you’d done more to stop Right to Buy?
We’ve insisted on all proceeds being reinvested in affordable homes. The Conservative plan to extend Right to Buy to all housing association properties will damage their asset base and hinder their ability to invest in new homes.
What are the limits of devolution?
Very few. English local government is currently emasculated and the Lib Dems will introduce devolution on demand. Cities and counties could choose from a menu of powers that can be devolved from Westminster.
Can you explain how you would fund ten garden cities?
Some resources would come from local authority land, from the government’s affordable homes programme and investment from the private sector. They should be socially balanced and environmentally sustainable communities.
What are your biggest concerns about Labour coming to power, in terms of the property sector?
Economic instability, leading to investment uncertainty.
