Minister urges councils to boost "unconventional" housing

Local authorities should take advantage of the government’s reforms in housing and planning to boost the number of residential moorings available, the Housing Minister has said.

Grant Shapps said "unconventional housing" such as houseboats could allow people to live in areas of the country where they could not afford to do so otherwise.

Creating extra residential moorings would also tackle the problem of unlawful overstaying on the towpath, he argued.

The Minister added that the New Homes Bonus provided a “strong incentive” for councils and communities to grant planning permission for more residential moorings, with the money received invested in new marina facilities or waterside recreational activities.

The funds could also be used to regenerate land, particularly Brownfield land, around waterways.

Shapps said new powers in the Localism Bill would restore local control over housing and the draft National Planning Policy Framework would deliver a simpler planning system “better tailored to the needs of communities”.

British Waterways, the largest navigation authority in England and Wales, will also be transferred to the voluntary sector from April 2012, “giving local communities a stronger role in determining the future of their waterways”.

The authority has recently published guidance for development of new residential moorings sites as an aid to local authorities and private investors.

The Housing Minister said: "Whilst they will never overtake bricks and mortar in putting a roof over the heads of families, innovative new ways of housing families - such as residential moorings - play an important role in allowing people to live near to their place of work, children's school, or family, and where perhaps they would not be able to afford to otherwise.

"Around 15,000 people live on our waterways and many more would like to do so. The Government's commitment to Localism could be an opportunity for living on boats to be given a new lease of life. Where houseboats pay council tax, communities will be eligible for the New Homes Bonus, so the potential economic benefits are huge.”

Alan Wildman, Chairman of the Residential Boat Owners' Association, said: "Living afloat is arguably the most sustainable, lowest impact way to live, whilst still being able to enjoy 100 per cent of the modern amenities that are available to those who live in conventional housing."