Be Bold to Deliver More Council Housing
ANDY BATSFORD
In November 2021, I was the Cabinet lead for Housing at Hastings Borough Council when we unveiled an ambitious plan to tackle the town’s worsening housing crisis. The Labour-led council pledged to build 500 truly affordable homes, capped at Local Housing Allowance rates over a five-year period from 2022 to 2027.
The start of the new housing development in Harrow Lane
This bold initiative aimed to address the stark mismatch between housing supply and demand, with over 1,400 households on the Council Housing Register and a growing number of local families becoming homeless and reliant on temporary accommodation.
The strategy focused on working with developers to deliver high-quality, 100% affordable housing schemes, while also utilising council-owned land to lead by example. By demonstrating that such developments could be both feasible and beneficial, the council sought to challenge traditional housing models and address scepticism from developers and stakeholders.
Despite initial doubts about the viability of 100% affordable housing estates, which was often criticised as unattractive or socially problematic, progress has been significant.
At the midway point of the initiative, Hastings has surpassed expectations, with over 515 affordable homes either completed, under construction, or soon to be on the market. Among these, 270 are “new council house” properties capped at LHA rate, marking a major achievement for the town and its residents.
Key successes include the Harrow Lane and St Mary’s Holmeshurst sites, which collectively account for over 300 affordable homes. These projects materialised despite early setbacks, such as the bankruptcy of the original developer at Harrow Lane. The sale of the site to Orbit and the subsequent commitment of Southern Housing to St Mary’s Holmesdale underscore the importance of having strong political leadership and a bold vision in overcoming obstacles and driving housing policy forward.
However, challenges remain. We are all aware of the geography of our town, hemmed in by the sea on one side and the country parks on the other. This severely limits the availability of large sites, which are attractive to developers. The much smaller infill developments which are available rarely yield the volume or affordability needed. This poses the question, where are the next 500 affordable homes to come from?
There have been concerns raised about the ability of the Green-led HBC to sustain momentum. Critics argue that the Green leadership’s preference for community-led schemes may lack the decisiveness and scale required to address the housing crisis. High-profile developments like the Horntye site will test HBC’s resolve to prioritise affordable housing amidst opposition from some of their natural supporters.
To ensure continued progress, national government support is essential. This includes:
A fully funded council house- building program to close the funding gap that currently requires developers to cover 60% of costs;
Cost-neutral mechanisms for councils to reclaim the cost of CPO’s and repurpose empty homes, which remain a visible frustration in Hastings.
Revise the ridiculous Labour Government housing targets that do not account for the town’s geographical and economic challenges, giving local authorities greater control over development priorities.
Affordable housing remains Hastings’ most pressing issue. Without safe, secure, and affordable homes, the town’s families and children face instability and hardship. Achieving lasting solutions will require hardnosed, bold leadership, creative problem-solving, and collaboration at both local and national levels. The 500 homes initiative has demonstrated what is possible, but sustained action is critical to prevent future setbacks and to build a more equitable housing future for Hastings.
Andy Batsford has represented the St Helens ward on Hastings BC since 2012, for the Labour Party (2012-23) and for the Hastings Independent Group (2023-). He was the Cabinet lead for Housing between 2017-2021.
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