UK homeless charity Shelter is calling on the government to close a legal loophole that allows housebuilders to renege on pledges to build affordable homes. So-called viability assessments of a project's impact on profit margins have enabled developers to avoid building 79% of previously promised social homes, contributing to a chronic shortfall, according to figures obtained via freedom of information requests. Shelter said Birmingham, Manchester and parts of London were the worst affected, and that larger developers were the biggest culprits. The report says there are more than 1,000 properties in England with no planning permission for at least one bedroom or less – which means they cannot be rented out as family homes by people who need them.
UK homeless charity Shelter is calling on the government to close a legal loophole that allows housebuilders to renege on pledges to build affordable homes. So-called viability assessments of a project's impact on profit margins have enabled developers to avoid building 79% of previously promised social homes, contributing to a chronic shortfall, according to figures obtained via freedom of information requests. Shelter said Birmingham, Manchester and parts of London were the worst affected, and that larger developers were the biggest culprits. The Department for Communities and Local Government said proposed changes to viability assessments were being considered.