Letter: I Agree, We Need Both Affordable and Social Housing

Published on: 14 Jun, 2021
Updated on: 14 Jun, 2021

From John Rigg,

Lead councillor for Regeneration and R4GV borough councillor for Holy Trinity

In response to: Where is the Promised Social Housing?

I have great sympathy for the views expressed by Howard Smith about affordability and social housing.

The town centre plan needs to deliver both. The R4GV hesitancy on social housing is not reluctance, it is merely one of resources and our being hesitant in promising to deliver large numbers of social homes if we don’t have the funds to hand, the resources or the capabilities to deliver these new homes.

We do have funds on standby but many people will know we are bringing forward the Weyside Urban Village scheme (£385m) Guildford Park Road (£100m+) Bright Hill and other Masterplan ideas for new homes all at the same time and whilst we are committed to delivering social homes we will avoid promises until we are sure we can meet those commitments.

Responses to Letter: I Agree, We Need Both Affordable and Social Housing

William Brewster Reply

June 14, 2021 at 9:18 pm

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in Surrey who don’t care about those communities who desperately need affordable housing or, in the case of Gypsies, transfer sites to allow them access to health care and education for their kids without the need to trespass.

If we are to lose millions of acres to housing why not do the right thing and help the neediest in Surrey.