Councils need some serious funding if they are to return to large-scale housebuilding

This is an article for Inside Housing magazine A week after the General Election Swindon Council leader David Renard wrote … More

Rent increase: tenants should not pay the cost of government underfunding of council housing

Swindon council will argue that their proposed above inflation 2.7% rent increase for council tenants in 2020-21 is acceptable because … More

Swindon as dormitory town?

According to government statistics not a single ‘social rent’ home was added to Swindon’s housing stock over the last five … More

The government increases the cost of ‘borrowing to build’

When local authorities build council housing, even if they receive central government grant, they borrow from the government’s own Public … More

The “Addison Act” and the building of Pinehurst

Parallels between the housing crisis in 1919 and today This pamphlet draws on original research into the Addison Act and … More

Why Labour should commit to £10 billion a year for council housing

This article was published by Inside Housing . For those without access to IH you can read on below. Pete … More

A fundamental change in Labour’s housing policy?

The composite housing resolution which went before Labour’s conference on Wednesday morning was passed unanimously. It marks a fundamental shift … More

Swindon’s first council estate – The Addison Act and the building of Pinehurst

Pinehurst was Swindon’s first council housing estate. Building started under the 1919 Housing and Planning Act introduced by Liberal … More

Labour must listen to its members and focus its policy on council housing

By Martin Wicks This article was published in Inside Housing Labour’s housing policy does not put enough on emphasis on … More