MPs are concerned that the Government agency for housing is spending millions on 'grotty' new homes and repeating the mistakes of mass house building of the 1960s.
The Homes and Communities Agency, which funds the pathfinder demolition programme, is charged with building poor quality replacement housing. In the official eco-rating system, which scores eco-building from 0 to 20, bailed-out private sector builders have scored as low as 1.5. The scale represents the 'Building for Life' benchmark which has (allegedly) been accepted as the basis for new construction.
The latest count shows 27 private developments have been rescued from collapse by public money. This arguably poses the question of whether it would have been cheaper to build with public funds in the first place rather than working with the private sector.
Alan Howarth, former architecture minister, told Building Design magazine , that "it (the HCA) had ignored its statutory duty to promote high-quality design".
The former minister added; "I don't think there can be any excuse at all for the HCA sanctioning a new wave of grotty housing"
These new revelations about poor housing build is no surprise to residents in pathfinder areas who have seen many perfectly good homes demolished in favour of 'grotty' developments.
Here in Gateshead the Council, now sceptical of receiving Government money for the botched pathfinder programme, is working with "private developers" to create Joint Venture Partnerships to build on the land now covered in grass. Could these be the same private developers who have scored as low as 1.5 in the Building for Life score? The horror story of Gateshead Council housing policy continues.
Link
The Observer (10th Jan 2010)
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