The National Housing Federation has responded to the Queen’s Speech where housing was heavily on the agenda.

The organisation was pleased to see the Housing Bill at the centre of the Queen’s Speech and called plans to identify brownfield land alongside the Right to Build policy “moves in the right direction.”

However it was concerned that proposed Right to Buy extensions and welfare reforms could put plans, which would ensure homes are built where people need them and for the right price, at risk.

Assistant Director of Campaigns and Communications at the National Housing Federation, Henry Gregg, said he was pleased to see the Government committed to getting more homes built but was worried by the long term policies.

“The availability and affordability of land are key obstacles to building the homes we need, so identifying and freeing up brownfield land is [a] good move in the short term,” said

“In the long term, however, there simply will not be enough of this kind of land to keep pace with the need for new homes or address the backlog.”

“Starter Homes are good news for those struggling to get their foot on the housing ladder and will increase the number of homes available and improve affordability. However, it is vital that this doesn’t come at the expense of the affordable housing contributions,” said Henry.

“We also need to be sure that these Starter Homes really do boost the number of homes being built, and they are not built instead of other homes planned.”

Henry said the organisation welcomed the Right to Build because it would “diversify the building of new homes and encourage new approaches to house building.”

However, he believed local plans for allocating sites should be informed by a robust assessment of housing need, and not “simply a preference for how those homes are built.”

Meanwhile, Henry felt that the Right to Buy policy was not a genuine solution to the housing crisis.

“An extension to the Right to Buy would mean that housing associations are working to keep pace with replacements rather than building homes for the millions stuck on waiting lists,” said Henry.

“At a time when we need to be increasing the overall amount of social housing, it is like trying to fill a bathtub with the plug taken out.

“What’s more, forcing housing associations to sell of[f] their properties under the Right to Buy sets an extremely dangerous precedent of government interference in independent business.

“We fully support the aspiration of homeownership, but this policy does nothing for the 11 million private renters and three million adult children living at home with their parents.

“If there is £22.5 billion of public money available for housing, we should use it to build the homes the next generation needs, not just gift it to the lucky few already housed in housing association homes.”