To wonder why the council can build family friendly houses and developers can't!

[CariCari]

I live in a small village, increasing in popularity rapidly. In the last 5 years 2 new build estates have been built by private developers and one new council estate of about 40 houses has been built. Other than that the council has put massive investments into the village over the last decade (all the council houses have been re-rendered, school got an extension, community centre refurbed, new running track at the park and new play equipment plus some. We feel very lucky.

I have a friend with 3 children. She lives in one of the new build council houses and yesterday I went round for a cup of tea and omg these houses are so much better than any of the private houses that have been built around the same time.

All 3 bedrooms are doubles, 2 with double built in wardrobes the other with a single built in wardrobe. Lots of cupboard space, massive garden, drive way, very bright. Also not built in a style that will age too fast and seems to have some character!

It's also quiet, her garden backs on to fields, the estate has a little play park etc.

All the 3 bed semis built by the private developers have 2 bedrooms which are barely doubles, a tiny box room etc.

AIBU to wonder how a cash strapped council are able to build houses actually suitable for a family but private developers can't!! I'll be honest I'm very jealous of my friend!!

Because the smaller the house, the more they can squeeze in, the more profit they make.

the council can (and often do) spend much more on building housing because they don’t have to sell them on the open market. The fact there is a massive waiting list for affordable housing seems to be irrelevant to them.

Most council funding comes from central government. Developers are also forced to build housing for free as a planning condition and pass it to local authorities or housing associations.

That’s not at all reality. Sometimes developers give money or build social housing on a different site but the idea that they can or so just ignore the law or that councils turn down revenue is just fantasy.

https://neweconomics.org/2022/02/how-private-developers-get-out-of-building-affordable-housing#:~:text=In%20essence%2C%20financial%20viability%20assessments,assessments%20alongside%20their%20planning%20application.

I think there is a fair argument for the government to build decent housing stock of a good size and then rent out at cost or just above it, thus providing secure, safe homes for people without it costing tax money.

IF that's what some are able to do today then I'd like to see more of it.

I don't dispute that.

But people earlier in the thread were assuming their council tax went towards this, and that is the point I was correcting.

They get very creative with their viability assessments, that's how they get out of it

Because private developers cut every bit of quality and space out to make a profit. As an example, if they can save 10p on a front door lock they will, leaving you with the same key as half the estate, vulnerable to burglary. That is not an exaggeration. That is a real life example.

I would never buy a new build for this reason.