Isle of Wight councillors will probe County Hall’s affordable housing delivery today (Tuesday) amid an ongoing Island housing crisis.
Watchdog panel the Corporate Scrutiny Committee will examine the council’s progress in delivering social and affordable housing and consider plans for future delivery.
Over 80% of the Island’s private rented accommodation became unavailable for long-term let since the COVID-19 pandemic as of February 2024, according to a council document.
During the same month, roughly 15,000 households were struggling to find somewhere to live. Those on the lowest incomes could not afford market rents.
Council data shows 7.3% of homes built on the Island last year were affordable. Its figures also show 135 properties stood empty last month and 3,266 second homes.
There are 6 focus areas for scrutiny tomorrow: looking into obstacles and challenges for affordable housing delivery, the transparency of delivery and allocation processes, the way in which funds are apportioned and monitored and development plans over the next 5 years.
Councillors will also delve into County Hall’s current position on providing a housing company itself and how affordable housing can be better delivered moving forward.
A report, signed by cabinet member for housing and finance Cllr Ian Stephens and director of adult social services Laura Gaudion, said:
“At the October Committee meeting the Committee members raised concerns over the number of residents’ enquiries they were receiving in relation to the lack of housing on the Island and wanted to understand what action has taken place over the past four years to develop housing on the Island, what have been the issues and what can be achieved now.”
Stephens and Gaudion’s document sets out a total of 6 strategic priorities: new housing supply, housing affordability, ‘good quality’ private sector housing, supporting housing associations and other partners, homelessness and housing need and special housing needs and vulnerable people.
How can there be a housing crisis if the Council is happily handing out accommodation to people who don’t even live here.
If there is a crisis, it’s of the Council’s own making. Stop rehousing people from the mainland and from other countries, of which there’s been a noticeable increase in the past few years.
And, why aren’t our local media asking questions about this? It’s ok just copy and pasting the stuff in the article here, but what about actually asking a question or two? Isn’t that what journalists are supposed to do?
Ban any more housing developments on the island
unless all developments are built as
affordable housing.
There are enough private homes for sale on
Rightmove.
Why don’t IW Council buy some of the properties
that are for sale on Rightmove, in the long run
much cheaper than paying private landlords
rent.
Well said, the council needs to think outside the box and also listen to islanders ideas
How did they solve the housing crisis after the war build council houses how do they solve the housing crisis now build council houses
Absolutely, there is enough new and existing housing at inflated prices on the market already much of which is not affordable