Sheffield City Council has pledged to build more than 3000 new council houses, despite calls to reduce the number due to building costs.
The plan was secured on February 20th at Sheffield’s Housing Revenue Account, which determines the housing budget and spending plans.
In October 2019, Sheffield City Council proposed that 3100 new council houses would be built by 2029.
However, at this week’s full council meeting, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party suggested that this figure was lowered by 800.
Sheffield’s Labour councillors argued that the council must either invest in housing, or accept managed decline.
Councillor Terry Fox, leader of the Sheffield City Council, backed the original proposals for new council houses.
Mr Fox said: “In the midst of a housing and climate crisis, Sheffield needs an ambitious capital investment programme to build more council housing and raise the standard of our existing stock.
“The budget put forward by the Green and Liberal Democrat led Housing Policy Committee was a recipe for further managed decline and reduces the number of new council homes.”
The council also made it clear that they wanted the residents to be more engaged in the housing plans, and so have introduced the Housing Advisory Panel.
Housing Advisory Panels will give the residents more power in decision making, and create a greater working relationship between the council and it’s residents.
Tom Hunt, Labour councillor for the Walkley ward, said: “Residents know exactly what improvements are needed for their homes. That’s why they should be at the heart of co-designing housing improvement plans.”
Labour councillors also want to see more investment into warmer homes, with less carbon emissions.
Currently, there is a budget of £62 million for heating, energy and carbon reduction. Labour councillors want to see this budget increased to £100 million, to further retrofit and decarbonise the council houses.
This will help residents to save on energy costs, and aid Sheffield in it’s mission to work towards net zero targets.
As well as better resident engagement and warmer, greener homes, the Housing Revenue Account will include an improved housing repairs service, to create more support for Sheffield’s neighbourhoods.
