Housing need study

The government has announced it is to commission a major study into housing need to determine whether people want to rent, buy or are interested in shared ownership. The findings will play a major part on the government’s affordable housing goals, according to the housing minister who was giving evidence at a Communities and Local Government select committee into housing and the credit crunch. She said her impression was that there was strong demand for home ownership, including shared equity schemes, and added that she expects housing associations to build the majority of affordable homes, despite moves to encourage council building.