In Swindon it's too unaffordable to build affordable houses

There was cause for hope when Swindon Borough Council said they were setting up their own housing company. At last, SBC could borrow money at historically low levels, build houses and either rent them (at council housing rates) and/or sell them on the private market. The privately-sold could have returned a profit and helped to pay for the new council houses.

But, of course, that would be too easy.

Instead SBC have built just seven houses, in 18 months of existence.

They do have a plan to build 14 houses in Shaw. Cynical residents say the original plan from the company was to build 16 houses, but that has been reduced as it realised that the plan would legally have to include affordable housing. But as we know all too well with SBC, everything, is always about the money.

Just to hammer-home that point, further sites around town identified for fill-in development by the housing company are due to be sold-off to developers, rather than done in-house.

Will there be a line in the sale contract to make sure the companies who buy the land will develop it in a short period of time and not land bank the purchase and simply fuel the housing shortage?

Of course not, this is all about the money!

- No strict control on design standards by doing it yourself.

- No new council houses to replace those being sold.

- No steady flow of new builds that the council can control.

At least they can use the money to rebrand themselves 'Swindon Housing Land Company'

How vibrant!