File: /home/roofmagazine.org.uk/public_html/roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21.html
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/>
<title>ROOF Magazine - ROOF Blog - Lunchtime news May 31</title>
<link rel="canonical" href="https://roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21" />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="../../../images/roof/favicon.ico"/>
<meta name="Title" content="ROOF Magazine - Lunchtime news May 31"/>
<meta name="Description" content="The Home Office has confirmed plans to include closure orders in the upcoming Criminal Justice Bill. The new powers will enable local…"/>
<meta name="Subject" content="Lunchtime news May 31"/>
<meta name="Publisher" content="ROOF Magazine, Shelter, 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU United Kingdom; roof@shelter.org.uk."/>
<meta name="Date" content="31 May 2023"/>
<meta name="Keywords" content="news"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../../roof_styles/reset.css"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../../roof_styles/roofstyles.css"/>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../../scripts/jquery.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../../roof_scripts/basicscripts.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../../roof_scripts/blog_scripts.js"></script>
<!--[if lt IE 7]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roof_styles/ie_less_seven.css" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lte IE 6]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix { height: 1%; }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7]>
<style type="text/css">
.clearfix {display:inline-block;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
} catch(err) {}</script>
<!--div id="baseline"></div-->
<!--div id="columns"><div id="columns_bg"></div></div-->
<div id="container" class="clearfix">
<a name="topofpage"></a>
<div class="line" id="adbar60">
<div id="toplh_ad">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../../openx/www/images/homelessness_conf_2010.homelessanim.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="Lime Legal" title="Lime Legal" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_4a735a8b3b" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
<div id="toprh_ad">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../../openx/www/images/localgovbanner.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="LocalGov" title="LocalGov" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_0d4cee1ad5" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="header">
<div class="sap-content">
<a href="/"><img src="../../../images/roof/roof_logo_final.png" alt="ROOF - For better housing" id="roof_logo"/></a>
<ul id="main_navigation">
<li><a href="../../../roofblog">Blog</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../features">Features</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../opinion">Opinion</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../jobs">Jobs</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../diary">Diary</a></li>
<li class="final_item"><a href="../../../about">About ROOF</a></li>
</ul>
<form method="post" action="/">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="19"/>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="f3a0e091bc130c58994e8ea2d3f76871"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RP" value="search&#47;results"/>
<input type="hidden" name="NRP" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="RES" value="10"/>
<input type="hidden" name="status" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="weblog" value="features|diary|roofblog|opinion|about"/>
<input type="hidden" name="search_in" value="everywhere"/>
<input type="hidden" name="where" value="all"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="searchbox">
<input type="text" name="keywords" id="main_searchfield" value="Search this site"/>
<button id="main_search_button" type="submit"></button>
</div>
</form>
<div id="subscription_promo">
<p id="promo_text">Online access is now Free. If you have an existing subscription <a href="../../../subscriptions">click here</a> for more information</p>
<!--p id="password_reminder"><a href="https://roofmagazine.org.uk/subscriptions/reset_password.php">Forgot your password?</a></p-->
</div>
<!--div id="login_instruction">Login for your online access: </div--><!--div class="item" id="login_box"><form method="post" action="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/" >
<div class='hiddenFields'>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="e15f42fc94a97935666e945940b5a65b" />
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="9" />
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="//roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21/" />
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1" />
</div>
<input type="text" id="login_user_name" value="ROOF reference" name="username" />
<input type="password" id="login_password" value="Password" name="password" />
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Login" id="login_button" />
</form>
</div-->
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line clearfix">
<div class="item" id="content_column_blog">
<ul id="breadcrumb_trail" class="clearfix">
<li><a href="/">ROOF</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog">ROOF Blog</a></li><li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/05">May 2007</a></li>
<li>Lunchtime news May 31</li></ul>
<div id="blog_single">
<div class="blog_item clearfix">
<h1>Lunchtime news May 21</h1>
<div class="clearfix">
<div class="post_details">
<p class="blog_date">21/05/2023</p>
<p class="blog_author"><strong>Posted by:</strong><br/>Julian Birch</p>
</div>
<div class="summary">
<p>Government housing policy is still failing on sustainability, according to a major report from the <a href="http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/200507.html" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/200507.html’);" target="_blank">Sustainable Development Commission</a> this morning. The report says it has made progress with its pledge on zero carbon homes but criticises development in areas of water stress, demolition of homes in the North and Midlands and divisions between private and affordable homes. ‘Few communities built so far are living up to the promise of being environmentally sensitive, well-connected, thriving and inclusive,’ it says.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6675137.stm" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6675137.stm’);">planning white paper</a> due to be published later today looks set to recommend scrapping planning inquiries for major projects and scrapping planning permission for minor household alterations. But the advance coverage is much less certain what it will say about the green belt.</p>
<p>Mortgage lending in April was up 18% on last year, according to <a href="http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/1164" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/1164’);" target="_blank">CML</a> figures this morning, but it said lending was now ‘stabilising’ following the major growth seen in 2006. The <a href="http://www.bba.org.uk/bba/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=145&a=9501" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://www.bba.org.uk/bba/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=145&a=9501’);">British Bankers Association</a> said mortgage lending was up by £5bn but that the market was slowing down because of high house prices and rising interest rates.</p>
<p>Industry minister and Barking MP <strong>Margaret Hodge</strong> called for people born in Britain to get priority for housing in an <a href="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2083763,00.html" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2083763,00.html’);" target="_blank"><strong>Observer</strong></a> article on Sunday that gets extensive <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6676471.stm" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6676471.stm’);" target="_blank">coverage</a> and <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2084327,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2084327,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront’);" target="_blank">criticism</a> this morning.</p>
<p>Nicola Sturgeon will have cabinet-level responsibility for housing in the new <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/05/17111128" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/05/17111128’);" target="_blank">SNP minority administration in Scotland</a>. She was named cabinet secretary for health and well-being, a portfolio that includes housing and regneration, on Thursday.</p>
<p>House prices in Scotland fell 2.2% in the first quarter of the year, according to <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/05/18101856" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/05/18101856’);" target="_blank">Registers of Scotland</a>, but prices were still up 12.3% over the last year.</p>
<p>Tenants in <strong>Lambeth</strong> will get a vote on the council’s plan for an <strong>almo</strong>, according to the <a href="http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_headline=ballot-to-decide-future-of-controversial-almo&method=full&objectid=19120607&siteid=50100-name_page.html" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/tm_headline=ballot-to-decide-future-of-controversial-almo&method=full&objectid=19120607&siteid=50100-name_page.html’);" target="_blank"><strong>South London Press.</strong></a> The council had previously said it would carry out a ‘test of opinion’ rather than a ballot.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510684" onclick="javascript:urchinTracker(’/external/http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510684’);" target="_blank"><strong>DCLG</strong></a> has published a guide to <strong>student accommodation</strong> aimed at landlords and students.</p>
</div>
<div class="blogbody">
</div>
<div class="blogextended">
</div>
</div>
<div class="blog_tags">
<div id="sharethis">
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="return addthis_open(this, 'email', '[URL]', '[TITLE]');" border="0" class="at_email">Email this</a>
<a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?v=250&pub=xa-4a48c802796d85f1" onmouseover="return addthis_open(this, '', '[URL]', '[TITLE]')" onmouseout="addthis_close()" onclick="return addthis_sendto()" class="at_share">Share this</a>
<script type="text/javascript" src="../../../js/250/addthis_widget-pub-xa-4a48c802796d85f1.js"></script>
</div>
<p><strong>Tags: </strong><a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/mortgage" title="mortgage">mortgage</a>, <a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/environment" title="environment">environment</a>, <a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/planning" title="planning">planning</a>, <a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/almos" title="almos">almos</a>, <a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/house-prices" title="house prices">house prices</a>, <a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/scotland" title="scotland">scotland</a>, <a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/private-renting" title="private renting">private renting</a<>
</div>
<div id="nextprev" class="clearfix">
<p id="previous_link"><strong>Previous article:</strong> <a href="../../../roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_18">Lunchtime news May 18</a></p>
<p id="next_link"><strong>Next article</strong> <a href="../../../roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_22">Lunchtime news May 22</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div id="comment_list">
<a name="comments"></a>
<h3>Comments:</h3>
<div class="comment_text">
<p>No comments have been made on this article yet.</p>
</div>
</div>
<form id="comment_form" method="post" action="../../../roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="1"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21/"/>
<input type="hidden" name="URI" value="/roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21/"/>
<input type="hidden" name="PRV" value=""/>
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="37d47d4677f15d497679d96f5f6788aa"/>
<input type="hidden" name="entry_id" value="137"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="comment_input">
<h3>Leave a comment</h3>
<p id="comment_name_field"><label for="comment_name">Name:</label><br/><input name="name" id="comment_name" type="text" value=""/></p>
<p id="comment_email_field"><label for="comment_email">Email:</label><br/><input name="email" id="comment_email" type="text" value=""/></p>
<p><textarea name="comment" id="comment" cols="50" rows="10"></textarea></p>
<div id="captcha_fields">
<p>Enter the word you see below:<br/> <input type="text" name="captcha" value="" size="20" maxlength="20"/></p>
</div>
<p><input type="submit" name="submit" value="Submit" id="submit_comment"/></p>
<!--p><input type="submit" name="preview" value="Preview" id="preview_comment" /></p-->
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blog_rh_col" class="item">
<div id="mpu_ad_area">
<a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../../openx/www/images/hcsroofbanner.gif" width="300" height="250" alt="Housing Care and Support conference" title="Housing Care and Support conference" border="0"/></a><div id="beacon_01215083af" style="position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"></div>
</div>
<div class="" id="blog_tags_column_nested">
<form id="mailinglist_form" method="post" action="/">
<div class="hiddenFields">
<input type="hidden" name="XID" value="47d9e376999c2b5651c59415ac892bdc"/>
<input type="hidden" name="ACT" value="3"/>
<input type="hidden" name="RET" value="http://www.roofmagazine.org.uk/roofblog/2007/05/lunchtime_news_may_21/"/>
<input type="hidden" name="list" value="blog_notification"/>
<input type="hidden" name="site_id" value="1"/>
</div>
<div id="mailinglistbox" class="clearfix">
<h3>Join the ROOF mailing list</h3>
<p>Receive notification via email of new posts on the ROOF Blog</p>
<p><input id="mailing_email" type="text" name="email" value="Your email"/></p>
<p><input id="mail_submit" type="submit" value="Submit"/></p>
</div>
</form>
<div id="tag_cloud">
<h3>All tags</h3>
<div id="cloud">
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/2020" title="2020" style="font-size:10px;">2020,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/A-E" title="A&E" style="font-size:10px;">A&E;,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/accessibility" title="accessibility" style="font-size:10px;">accessibility,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/accommodation" title="accommodation" style="font-size:10px;">accommodation,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/activism" title="activism" style="font-size:10px;">activism,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/admissions" title="admissions" style="font-size:10px;">admissions,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/adults" title="adults" style="font-size:10px;">adults,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/advertising" title="advertising" style="font-size:10px;">advertising,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice" title="advice" style="font-size:10px;">advice,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/advice-service" title="advice service" style="font-size:10px;">advice service,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affluence" title="affluence" style="font-size:10px;">affluence,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordability" title="affordability" style="font-size:18px;">affordability,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordability" title="Affordability" style="font-size:12px;">Affordability,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable" title="affordable" style="font-size:10px;">affordable,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-homes" title="affordable homes" style="font-size:16px;">affordable homes,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-housing" title="affordable housing" style="font-size:12px;">affordable housing,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/affordable-rent" title="affordable rent" style="font-size:10px;">affordable rent,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/ageing-population" title="ageing population" style="font-size:10px;">ageing population,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/agency" title="agency" style="font-size:10px;">agency,</a>
<a href="../../../roofblog/tags/tag/agents" title="agents" style="font-size:10px;">agents,</a>
</div>
</div>
<div id="blog_archives">
<h3>Blog archive</h3>
<h4>2010</h4>
<ul id="months_2010">
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2010/03">March 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2010/02">February 2010</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2010/01">January 2010</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2009</h4>
<ul id="months_2009">
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/12">December 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/11">November 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/10">October 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/09">September 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/08">August 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/07">July 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/06">June 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/05">May 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/04">April 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/03">March 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/02">February 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2009/01">January 2009</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2008</h4>
<ul id="months_2008">
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/12">December 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/11">November 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/10">October 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/09">September 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/08">August 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/07">July 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/06">June 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/05">May 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/04">April 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/03">March 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/02">February 2008</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2008/01">January 2008</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2007</h4>
<ul id="months_2007">
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/12">December 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/11">November 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/10">October 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/09">September 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/08">August 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/07">July 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/06">June 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/05">May 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/04">April 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/03">March 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/02">February 2007</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2007/01">January 2007</a></li>
</ul>
<h4>2006</h4>
<ul id="months_2006">
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2006/12">December 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2006/11">November 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2006/10">October 2006</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../roofblog/2006/09">September 2006</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="" id="advertising_column_blog">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--//<![CDATA[
var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https://roofmagazine.org.uk/openx/www/delivery/ajs.php':'/');
var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999);
if (!document.MAX_used) document.MAX_used = ',';
document.write ("<scr"+"ipt type='text/javascript' src='"+m3_u);
document.write ("?zoneid=1");
document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r);
if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used);
document.write (document.charset ? '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? '&charset='+document.characterSet : ''));
document.write ("&loc=" + escape(window.location));
if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer));
if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context));
if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1");
document.write ("'><\/scr"+"ipt>");
//]]>--></script><noscript><a href="/" target="_blank"><img src="../../../openx/www/delivery/avw_php-zoneid-1-cb-INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBER_HERE-n-aa9d368a.jpg" border="0" alt=""/></a></noscript>
<div id="google_160">
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
/* 160x600, created 2/3/09 */
//-->
</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="btt">
<p><a href="#topofpage">Back to top of page</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="line">
<div class="item" id="footer">
<div id="footer_menu">
<h3><a href="../../../about">About this site</a></h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/shop/subscriptions/roof_magazine">Subscriptions information</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../about/copyright">Disclaimer and copyright</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../about/privacy">Privacy policy</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p id="roof_contact">© 2005-09 ROOF Magazine | ROOF 88 Old Street, London EC1V 9HU</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
try {
} catch(err) {}</script>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>