Onchan MHK Rob Callister has criticised a report into the island’s housing need, asking why nothing has been done to get building before now.
Members debated the Housing and Communities Board report which outlined a proposal for 1,000 homes over the next 10 years.
Chair David Ashford told members: “The Isle of Man is at a critical juncture in its development and the objective assessment of housing needs published earlier this year provides a comprehensive analysis of our current and future housing requirements.”
He added: “It [the report] highlights the urgent need for affordable housing to meet the demands of our growing population and to ensure that those who need it have access to a safe, secure and affordable home.
“This work also has benefits for the Housing and Communities board longer term in terms of providing a set of coordinated data to enable us to start to consider more detailed housing need for the island.”
However members, while supporting the overall principles and some such as Chris Thomas (Douglas Central) and Paul Craine MLC were supportive of the data the report provided, others were highly critical of the report.
Those who raised concerns highlighted the lack of movement in the last three years and the potential for a housing association which is believed to be an aim for the government, either working with or replacing local authorities.
Done Nothing
Mr Callister told Mr Ashford that he felt a “deep sense of frustration regarding the pace and implementation of change by the housing community board over the past three years”.
He said that the lack of movement on any significant house building in the last three years of the administration and said that developments like the Old Nurses Home in Douglas cannot be consider to be affordable housing.
While acknowledging Mr Ashford has not been in the role all that time, he added: “I find myself frustrated by what is often appears to be a slow approach to change and implementation.
“At times, I feel there’s a lack of energy and urgency within the board to tackle some of the most critical housing issues we currently face, particularly for the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Mr Callister also criticised the lack of work on helping people who find themselves homeless and said the report would do “very little to alleviate the suffering of individuals and families who are desperately seeking sustainable and cost effective housing options right now”.
He also called on the government to work better with local authorities and developers to ensure homes, especially affordable homes, get built.
We will have more on the wide ranging debate today.
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