£35,282,000 Needed For Decent Homes In Kensington & Chelsea

9.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Mar 2004

Hughes: "We need a change of focus in housing"

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will need at least £35,282,000 in the next six years if it is to meet ministers' Decent Homes Standard according to new figures released today by Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes.

Only 41% of local authority dwellings in the Borough meet the standard.

Jennifer Kingsley, Liberal Democrat councillor for the Royal Borough, reacted with dismay upon receiving the figures, which were released to Mr. Hughes in a parliamentary answer by Keith Hill on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Said Mrs Kingsley:

"Local residents are being let down by the lack of leadership and foresight on the part of ministers and the current Mayor.

"Four years after the Decent Homes Standard target was set, Kensington and Chelsea still has the majority of its housing stock failing to conform to a basic standard that will keep people warm and healthy.

"For decades, local people have been let down by under-investment in much needed social housing by successive Conservative and Labour governments. We must tackle this unjust social dilemma once and for all."

In a statement released on 1st March, Simon Hughes said:

"A decent home is a critical component of ensuring that the mental and physical well-being of people living in Local Authority accommodation is provided. It is time there was a real focus on ensuring that the capital has homes that are in good shape for Londoners."