Stockport’s Labour councillors are calling on Stockport Homes to concentrate on building homes rather than expensive offices, after proposals were put forward by the housing provider for a new multi-million pound office.
Stockport Homes, the arms-length management organisation (ALMO) for Stockport’s council housing, has asked Stockport Council to provide a loan of £9.2million so they can build new offices on Edward Street opposite the Town Hall on the site of the Lamborghini garage.
Stockport Homes’ plea for cash for a new office comes at the same time as the waiting list for social housing in Stockport is close to 8,000, with approximately half of those people in urgent need of housing. Stockport Homes is not building enough homes for social rent and this is forcing people into expensive private rented accommodation at added cost to the taxpayer.
In addition, three bed flats at Lancashire Hill are being advertised on Zoopla because they can’t be let due to the Bedroom Tax which means even families with one or two small children continue to wait while flats stand empty.
Stockport Labour Group’s Housing Spokesperson, Cllr Sheila Bailey, said, “If Stockport Homes come to the Council and ask to borrow money to build homes at rents young people and families can afford, or to provide housing for people being forced out of their homes because of the Bedroom Tax, we would be 100% in support. What we cannot and will not support, at a time when so many people are struggling to find somewhere affordable and secure to live, is the use of the Council’s access to borrowing to build a prestige office block which may be desirable but is in no way essential.”
This latest plan from Stockport Homes comes after senior managers proposed giving themselves a £12,000 pay increase earlier this year.
The office and loan proposals are scheduled to be debated at the Adult Care Services & Housing Scrutiny Committee on 28th October with members of the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee also attending.