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E.P.P. believes this country needs to convert many existing “brown-field” sites to more economic housing, in line with the requirements, and wishes, of the population.
The demand has changed over the last 100 years, from large, 5/6 bedroom complete family residences, to much smaller individual properties, with maybe two or even just one bedroom. Everybody wants his or her own house!
To meet this demand, thousands of smaller houses have been built, with many in totally unsuitable places. The Government should control this more carefully if necessary, as here in England, available land for building is definitely finite! This is not Texas!
Building on flood plains, or on green-belt land is not considered an option, and is thought to be very short-sighted, sometimes dangerous, and very detrimental to our countryside. We must make far better use of existing designated housing or commercial areas.
2) Tower Blocks
Tower Blocks are now unpopular, and sometimes thought of as “vertical slums”. They can be dirty, very often dangerous, havens for crime, and are no longer considered as a viable alternative to “having your own house, with a bit of garden”.
However, empty Tower Block buildings could be auctioned to the private sector, and if converted for sale to first time buyers, they could provide a useful additional method, for taking the first step on the property ladder.
People in Council Houses, or Rented Accommodation, will be assisted and encouraged to join the private market. This will have the additional benefit of discouraging further Government control in the nation’s housing programme, via Council Housing.
Not all, but many areas of “Social Housing”, or Council Houses, are pools of under-achievers, spiralling downward, and the plan is to try and eradicate these, as far as possible.
We want to promote Education in these places, to help and further the resident’s own achievements and encourage a civic pride again. Move upward, rather than downward.
4) Mortgages
To help people get on “the housing ladder”, Interest-Free Mortgages for the early years will be initiated by the Government, with financial assistance to Mortgage Lenders.
Building Societies will be discouraged from lending well in excess of the borrowers capability of repayment! This leads not only to distress for the borrower, but also to rapid and uncontrollable house price inflation. This affects us all ultimately. It should be stopped, or carefully controlled.
Government Loans and Assistance, filtered through Mortgage Lenders, will be made available for Central Heating, Loft Insulation, Solar Panels, etc. or any proven Environmentally Friendly Eco-system, that is added to existing housing. (Please see our No.9 Policy, for Ecology and the Environment for further details).
The gradual introduction of Planning Regulations to incorporate energy-saving devices will be introduced over a ten-year period.
It is in all our interests to reduce the demand on Gas, Water and Electricity Supplies, both environmentally, and also in relation to our dependability on foreign nations to supply these commodities. We are no longer self-supporting in these fields, and this problem must be addressed with urgency. (See our Environmental Policy for full details).
ENGLAND'S PARLIAMENTARY PARTY - A NEW WAY OF RUNNING ENGLAND, BASED ON HOUSING ALL OUR RESIDENTS PROPERLY, HELPING TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT, USING CAREFUL PLANNING - AND COMMON SENSE!