New report requests 100,000 homes for heroes
A recent report from the Local Government Association (LGA) advises that 100,000 new homes should be constructed every year to house people who have assisted in fighting COVID-19 and those who have lost family members to the pandemic.
The LGA claims that a social housing investment of this size will provide benefits to all levels of society and the UK economy as a whole. It cited that thousands of new jobs could be created, generating an income of £320bn over a 50-year period.
The document suggests that its 100,000 "homes for heroes" target should now become a part of the UK government's wider initiative to build 300,000 homes each year. The LGA adds that the new social housing scheme could also help accommodate the thousands of homeless, put up in temporary lodgings during the lockdown.
Housing spokesman for the LGA, David Renard, commented:
"As the nation comes through the biggest crisis we have faced since the second world war, we owe it to the health, care and other essential public service workers, who have risked their lives to keep the country running, to provide them with affordable, high-quality homes."
Architects in Chester, London and other UK cities must always be mindful that house building plans are made with homeowners in mind. Ease of access, privacy and functionality should all be considered when creating designs.
Entitled "Building new social rent homes – an updated economic appraisal", the report is designed to outline the potential of house building as a crucial element of government plans for economic regeneration.