‘Bolder vision’ needed for levelling up white paper

by Mary-Anne Bowring/Property Week

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The industry has given a muted response to the initial outline of the long-awaited Levelling Up white paper.

The paper was due to be published in December but was delayed due to the Omicron coronavirus variant sweeping the nation.

The government has today released the objectives for levelling up the country, including plans to make private landlords refit their properties under new standards.

The government housing arm Homes England has also been put in charge of regenerating 20 towns and cities in a “King’s Cross-style”, starting off with Wolverhampton and Sheffield.

The policy forms part of 12 missions to “level up the UK” which include giving devolution powers to every part of England by 2030, and giving renters a “secure path to ownership” by 2030.

The property industry has given a mixed response to the outline, with the British Property Federation saying the delivery of the government’s ambition needs a “bolder vision”.

Mary-Anne Bowring, group managing director at Ringley, said: “The government’s levelling-up white paper lacks serious ambition with little to no new money introduced to create a level playing field across the UK. Many people in the UK are struggling with a rise in the cost of living as energy prices, amongst others, continue to soar. The abolishment of Section 21, which ends the unfair situation where renters can be kicked out of their homes for no reason, is certainly positive, however the government needs to do more to protect those most vulnerable in a time of economic change.”

 

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