Commitment to create 1,000 affordable homes

A 10-year commitment to build up to 1,000 affordable homes, with the initiative due to start in April 2025 has been given political backing.

Part of the Housing and Communities Board's response to the Objective Assessment of Housing Need report, the move was received by Tynwald members.

Board chairman David Ashford MHK said the "firm commitment" was "decisive action" and a "critical step towards assessing the housing needs of our island".

But politicians raised concerns about a lack of secured funding for the scheme and there having been no new public sector housing built in the previous three years.

Carried out by Opinion Research Services, the report collated and analysed data including census statistics and existing housing figures to understand the current and future state of housing needs on the island.

Among other findings, it suggested, with net migration of 1,000 people a year for the Manx government to reach population and job growth targets, almost 10,000 homes would need to be built by 2041, which would be a mix of public and private developments.

In its response, the board also suggested a housing association should be considered and the 48 empty public sector properties on island should be brought back into use.

During Tuesday's debate, Lawrie Hooper MHK called for "shovels to be put in the ground now" but said he believed the target without any commitment to funding would "prolong the paralysis".

Rob Callister MHK said the ambition to build 1,000 affordable homes over a decade would do "very little to alleviate the suffering of individuals and families who are desperately seeking sustainable and cost effective housing options right now".

Ashford said the response to the report was looking to "set a direction of travel" for this and future parliaments.

He told the court it was important that any plans to build were "data-driven" and saw properties constructed "in the right places and of the right type".

It had therefore been "absolutely essential" to understand the findings of the research first, he said.

In response to criticism over a lack of clarity over funding for the new homes, Ashford confirmed conversations had already begun with the Treasury,

"We'll need to put our money where our mouth is if were going to deliver this," he added.

A total of 27 members supported the motion, with two members voting against it.

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