‘ThisCouncil notes that:

·          

We are not building enough homes inEngland tomeet housing needs,with most commentatorsidentifying the levelof needat around 265,000 homes per annum.

·          

Rising house pricesmean thedream of homeownershipisbeyond the reach ofmillions and the sizeof amortgage deposit alone stops many would-befirst-time buyersfrom gettingon the housingladder.

·          

One in 12families inEngland isnow on asocial housingwaiting list.

·          

The average house pricein Plymouth in20 12was £159,281 making thestandard 20% mortgage deposit £31,856.

·          

Evidence from  the 2013Strategic  HousingMarket  NeedsAssessmentindicatesthe  median annual  earningsto  be£23,600 withalmost40% ofhouseholdsearning  below£20,000, meaning  that  £29,829(with a 10% deposit)is requiredto purchasea lower  quartile  house of £I16,000or toafford theaverage  marketrent fora two  bed property.

·          

A lower quartile housecosts6.3 times the incomeof ahouseholdearninga lower quartile salary.

·          

80% offuturehousingneeds arefor one and two bedroomsaffordablehomes.

·          

Customers seeking housingadvice haveincreased by 41% andthe total housing waitinglist standsat 10,100 - all signs ofthe housing marketbeing under severe stress.

·          

The Government have provided assistancewith mortgage deposits.

ThisCouncil believes that:

·          

The solution tothe housing shortage is to buildmore of the righthomes, inthe rightplace, at the right price.

·          

Public oppositionis one  of the  main barriersto increasinghousing supplyand alltoo  often the  people  whoactuallyneed  homes  are  missing from  localdebates.

·          

Plymouth  CityCouncil  needsto  takean activerole in  makingthe  casefor  buildingmore homeslocally, through  both the  Plymouth  Plan consultationsand the  neighbourhood planningprocess.

This Council resolves to:

(1)

Support the  Yesto Homes  campaign, and commits  to increasing  thedelivery ofthe right homes,  in the  right place,at the  right pricein the  Plymouth  housingmarket  area.

(2)

Work withYes to Homes supporters,localgroups, and organisationsto activelymake the casefor new homesand explainthe benefits ofnew homes forthe whole community.

(3)

Invite the Plymouth  HousingDevelopment Partnershipto  holdspecial hearingson housing to helplocal people,communitygroups  andbusinesses  togive evidence  on        the need for more homes,  includinginvestigating the  reasons why people  object  to  new homes, and report thesefindings tothe  WorkingPlymouth ScrutinyPanel.

(4)

Informlocal people,  localMembers  ofParliament, One  Plymouth,the  Plymouth GrowthBoard ,the  Heartof the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, thePlymouth  Housing DevelopmentPartnershipandthe  Plymouth  RegenerationForum  of thisdecision.’

(a)

a step change in housing delivery was required without changing the character of the city;  

(b)

consideration needed to be given to the design of houses;

(c)

brown field sites should be developed in the first instance and discussions were required with South Hams Borough Council on urban fringe sites.

(d)

homes needed to be in the right place;

(e)

there was a demand for executive homes as well as one and two bedroom houses;    

(f) 

infrastructure should be in place before the start of development.