2015 Conservative right to buy manifesto pledge
The Conservative Party manifesto for the 2015 election includes a commitment to extend the right to buy scheme which was introduced in 1980 to help council housing tenants buy their homes at a discount from the full market value of the property.
Major changes were previously introduced to Right to Buy in April 2012 when maximum discounts were increased from as little as £16,000 in some areas to up to £77,000 across England and £102,700 in London.
This manifesto pledge proposes extending the right to buy to 1.3 million housing association tenants. Under the 1996 Housing Act, 800,000 housing association tenants already had the ‘right to acquire’ their homes at a small discount, but the Conservative’s propose extending the scheme to a further 500,000 housing association tenants and giving them the same discount as council housing tenants.
The scheme would be funded by local authorities selling their top third most expensive properties in the area when they become vacant and replacing them on a one-for-one basis with affordable homes. This is expected to include approximately 15,000 properties a year, raising £4.5 billion a year. £1 billion of money raised would be used to create a Brownfield Regeneration Fund to bring brownfield sites back into use.
The Conservative Party suggest that this will result in 400,000 new homes being built over five years.
Right to Buy will end in Scotland on 1 August 2016. Wales is also considering ending the scheme or reducing the discount from £16,000 to £8,000, and in Northern Ireland, the discount is capped at £24,000.
Featured articles and news
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding.
Types of rapidly renewable content
From forestry to agricultural crops and their by-products.
Terraced houses and the public realm
The discernible difference between the public realm of detached housing and of terraced housing.
Looking back at the influence of climate events
From a designer and writer: 'There are limits to growth but no limits to development'.
Terms, histories, theories and practice.
Biophilic design and natural light
Letting in the light and natural elements into spaces.