Lib Dem calls for more homes for Stockport

9.50.43am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Local MP, Andrew Stunell, is calling for more help for families on housing waiting lists at the Lib Dem Party Conference this week. Delegates to the conference will hear proposals from Mr Stunell that would help 7,000 families in Stockport into their own homes.

'Homes for All' calls for 10,000 new homes in Stockport and also sets a minimum green standard for new houses to help people save on their fuel bills and be more environmentally-friendly.

Commenting on the plans, the Hazel Grove MP, said:

"Over the last ten years, the number of homes being built for social housing has halved while the number of families on the waiting list has gone up by 50%.

"We need to build more houses and we need to build better houses. These plans would create thousands of new, affordable social and low cost homes each year for families currently trapped in overcrowded conditions and young people looking for their first home."

"Building new homes is a great opportunity to be 'greener' by demanding that houses have proper insulation and energy-efficient heating systems. At the moment, people are paying high fuel bills because their homes lose energy too easily."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. There are approximately 110,000 homes in Stockport. Around 800 new houses are built each year, offset by around 200 demolitions.

2. Across the UK 93,980 households are registered as homeless by local authorities and the 1,634,301 families on the social housing waiting list.

3. 54% of carbon emissions in the UK come from buildings, half of which come from residential properties.

4. Information about the 'Homes for All' and the Liberal Democrat Party Conference can be found at: http://www.libdems.org.uk/conference/