Nov 18 - Not Enough Government Housing – Claims GSD
The GSD has welcomed the commencement of the Government’s Affordable Housing Scheme that will see 564 apartments built at the Aerial farm site and a further 380 flats at the Coach Park. The GSD has, however, claimed that these homes will go up for sale, providing little consolation for those on the Government Housing Waiting List.
The Opposition notes, ‘as at September 2013 there were 1,651 applicants on the Housing Waiting List plus a further 394 on the pre-list. This brings a combined grand total of 2,045 applicants. These applicants are too numerous for all to be offered an opportunity to purchase their own home, even if they so desire and can afford it.
‘Government has already stated that it is hopeful that some potential purchasers will return their present rental homes back into the general housing stock. However, simple mathematics lead us to conclude that even if a reasonable number of prospective buyers do return flats to the rental housing stock, Government does not seem to be on track to fulfil their electoral promise of providing a home for all applicants on the housing waiting list as at December 2011. The Opposition calls upon Government to explain how it intends to offer a home to all on the waiting list as promised if there are simply not enough homes being built.’
