Problem Solved

[laurejon]

Looks like the problem is going to be solved, part ownership with the land it stand on leased.

JOHN PRESCOTT said yesterday that house prices were far too high “unless you’ve bought one” as he announced the winning nine teams chosen to build his £60,000 homes.

The Deputy Prime Minister selected nine building consortiums which will compete to construct two-bedroom developments which could become the template for affordable housing for first-time buyers in shared equity schemes.

One thousand ultra-cheap homes made from timber, steel, glass and brick and guaranteed to last 100 years subject to terms and conditions will be built next spring on ten sites around Britain.

Many can be partly pre-built, using flatpacks of complete rooms similar to the concepts of luxury furniture specialists such as Ikea, MFI, Homebase, bathroom and kitchen pods that can be craned in, or walls with windows, doors and electricity points manufactured in China.

The aim is that they can be constructed quickly, reducing labour costs and that they are adaptable to the local environment, a growing community and an expanding household. A house built in London could be clad in glass and steel bars on the windows while one in rural Oxfordshire could have more traditional timber.

An extra room can be built for a new baby or a destitute parent for example, or a chair lift fitted for an elderly grandmother subject to an increase in council taxes.

Some have innovative security designs such as kitchens which stick out an angle allowing clear views down the street. Another design has light wells styled like chimney shafts to allow sunlight to stream in irrespective of the direction in which the house is built.

Over the next few months the teams will go on to the final stage of Mr Prescott’s Design for Manufacture competition and bid to build the properties. The land, hospital and military sites and underused public ground, is owned by English Partnership, which is masterminding the competition.

The consortiums can bid for more than one site, but there is no guarantee that they will win any contract. Final plans will be judged in January with the homes built next spring.

Asked if he thought the average house price in Britain was too high, Mr Prescott said: “I think everybody thinks they are too high unless they have bought one.” A third would be built for first-time buyers who would be able to buy the whole house or take part in a shared equity scheme. The rest would be available for mixed schemes including rented homes from housing associations.

Developers will also be able to provide cheaper apartments, or more expensive three- or four-bedroom houses on the same site, depending on market forces. Mr Prescott said: “As well as enabling around 1,000 more families and first-time buyers to have a decent, affordable home of their own, the £60,000 housing challenge is raising the bar for the quality of future developments.”

The Tories attacked the proposals, claiming that the £60,000 price tag was not a selling price but the construction costs of the building alone. Caroline Spelman, Shadow Local Government Secretary, said that much of the development was on contaminated land. She said: “The grim reality is that the homes are in less than desirable locations.”

An online exhibition will seek the public’s views.

BIG BUILD UP

The winning consortiums that will go through to the next stage are: Barratt Developments, Geoffrey Osborne, George Wimpey UK, Northern Edge, Redrow, William Verry, SIXTYK Consortium, the Countryside Consortium and Westbury

70 per cent of new homes are now being built on brownfield sites, compared with 56 per cent in 1997

New homes are now built at an average density of 40 dwellings per hectare compared with 25 in 1997

Between 1996-97 and 2003-04, building in the affordable housing sector dropped by 45 per cent

In the past five years waiting lists for affordable housing in England have grown by 38 per cent

15 million people in England are owner-occupiers, 6.4 million rent private or social housing and 80,000 are in shared-equity schemes

[miser]

Looks like the problem is going to be solved, part ownership with the land it stand on leased.

JOHN PRESCOTT said yesterday that house prices were far too high “unless you’ve bought one” as he announced the winning nine teams chosen to build his £60,000 homes.

The Deputy Prime Minister selected nine building consortiums which will compete to construct two-bedroom developments which could become the template for affordable housing for first-time buyers in shared equity schemes.

One thousand ultra-cheap homes made from timber, steel, glass and brick and guaranteed to last 100 years subject to terms and conditions will be built next spring on ten sites around Britain.

Many can be partly pre-built, using flatpacks of complete rooms similar to the concepts of luxury furniture specialists such as Ikea, MFI, Homebase, bathroom and kitchen pods that can be craned in, or walls with windows, doors and electricity points manufactured in China.

The aim is that they can be constructed quickly, reducing labour costs and that they are adaptable to the local environment, a growing community and an expanding household. A house built in London could be clad in glass and steel bars on the windows while one in rural Oxfordshire could have more traditional timber.

An extra room can be built for a new baby or a destitute parent for example, or a chair lift fitted for an elderly grandmother subject to an increase in council taxes.

Some have innovative security designs such as kitchens which stick out an angle allowing clear views down the street. Another design has light wells styled like chimney shafts to allow sunlight to stream in irrespective of the direction in which the house is built.

Over the next few months the teams will go on to the final stage of Mr Prescott’s Design for Manufacture competition and bid to build the properties. The land, hospital and military sites and underused public ground, is owned by English Partnership, which is masterminding the competition.

The consortiums can bid for more than one site, but there is no guarantee that they will win any contract. Final plans will be judged in January with the homes built next spring.

Asked if he thought the average house price in Britain was too high, Mr Prescott said: “I think everybody thinks they are too high unless they have bought one.” A third would be built for first-time buyers who would be able to buy the whole house or take part in a shared equity scheme. The rest would be available for mixed schemes including rented homes from housing associations.

Developers will also be able to provide cheaper apartments, or more expensive three- or four-bedroom houses on the same site, depending on market forces. Mr Prescott said: “As well as enabling around 1,000 more families and first-time buyers to have a decent, affordable home of their own, the £60,000 housing challenge is raising the bar for the quality of future developments.”

The Tories attacked the proposals, claiming that the £60,000 price tag was not a selling price but the construction costs of the building alone. Caroline Spelman, Shadow Local Government Secretary, said that much of the development was on contaminated land. She said: “The grim reality is that the homes are in less than desirable locations.”

An online exhibition will seek the public’s views.

BIG BUILD UP

The winning consortiums that will go through to the next stage are: Barratt Developments, Geoffrey Osborne, George Wimpey UK, Northern Edge, Redrow, William Verry, SIXTYK Consortium, the Countryside Consortium and Westbury

70 per cent of new homes are now being built on brownfield sites, compared with 56 per cent in 1997

New homes are now built at an average density of 40 dwellings per hectare compared with 25 in 1997

Between 1996-97 and 2003-04, building in the affordable housing sector dropped by 45 per cent

In the past five years waiting lists for affordable housing in England have grown by 38 per cent

15 million people in England are owner-occupiers, 6.4 million rent private or social housing and 80,000 are in shared-equity schemes

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is evidence coming to light that even some high street banks dont want anything to do with this scheme.There are just too many complexities involved with who takes a cut in the event of any loss or gain in the properties value.I think that it is dawning even on the banks now that that the value of property at least in the next five years or so is only going to be going in one direction.I will not goad you as to which direction that is because I know by your history on this site your beliefs even in the face of what is becoming increasingly obvious week by week.

[aclwalker]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that John Prescott is rarely in the news any more? Why is this? Has he calmed his temper or something?

[DTMark]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that John Prescott is rarely in the news any more?  Why is this?  Has he calmed his temper or something?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd say it's because he's an embarrassment to the Government, so he's kept out of the public's view as much as possible.

[NotDavidIcke]

I'd say it's because he's an embarrassment to the Government, so he's kept out of the public's view as much as possible.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't forget he is the Deputy PM

When Blair is out of the country, Prescott is in charge i.e. he IS the government.

[laurejon]

And a fine job he is doing so far, nobody has heard from him and nobody has seen him. Lets all hope he keeps this good work up.

Anyone Know where Blair has gone for his Hols?.

Grease I suspect.

[DTMark]

Don't forget he is the Deputy PM

When Blair is out of the country, Prescott is in charge i.e. he IS the government.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not convinced about the "in charge" bit. I suspect he has Tony's mobile number and doesn't have much scope or autonomy to actually make any major decisions.

The Deputy Prime Minister post seems a bit of a nonsense to me, I'd thought he was given that when he proved to be crap at transport and it was a good way of not having to sack him but not giving him much to do either.

[laurejon]

Wouldnt he go with Blair, I hear Cherie is rather partial to a Gin and Tonic.

[Waiting Patiently]

Quote=NotDavidIcke

When Blair is out of the country, Prescott is in charge i.e. he IS the government

And a fine job he is doing so far, nobody has heard from him .......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

On the contrary, we heard from Prescott earlier this week. He said "house prices are too high"

BBC News 9th August

House prices too high - Prescott 

 

John Prescott said the price of houses in Britain is too high .............

BBC News Prescott

[North London Rent Girl]

Looks like the problem is going to be solved, part ownership with the land it stand on leased.

...

One thousand ultra-cheap homes made from timber, steel, glass and brick and guaranteed to last 100 years subject to terms and conditions will be built next spring on ten sites around Britain.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mmm, those sound lovely - and a whole 100 years, now there's something great to leave to the kids. How do I get on the waiting list?!

(and I know this was in the article and wasn't you but "LUXURY furniture specialists such as Ikea, MFI, Homebase" erm...!)

[laurejon]

and I know this was in the article and wasn't you but "LUXURY furniture specialists such as Ikea, MFI, Homebase" erm

I am entitled to some Journalistic licence.

[NotDavidIcke]

I'm not convinced about the "in charge" bit. I suspect he has Tony's mobile number and doesn't have much scope or autonomy to actually make any major decisions.

The Deputy Prime Minister post seems a bit of a nonsense to me, I'd thought he was given that when he proved to be crap at transport and it was a good way of not having to sack him but not giving him much to do either.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well... at least our hero Prescott can handle himself in a bunfight...

Good on the Welsh farmers!!

Edited August 14, 2005 by NotDavidIcke

[Mushroom]

I just can't contain my joy at the thought of these wonderful dwellings.

I expect they will be so desireable that many Junior Government Ministers and even MPs will try to obtain one for their own accommodation.

Isn't our Government so caring?

[Losing Faith]

MPs brawling in the street.

How did Prescott's career stay intact ?

[NotDavidIcke]

Blair probably couldn't have chosen a better Deputy - he must feel VERY safe in his job with Prescott around.