By Ian Duncan Political reporter

Last updated at 08:16, Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Calls are growing for more one-bedroom homes to be built to ease the plight of people hit by the Government’s controversial bedroom tax.

Robert Betton

The issue was raised as councillors in Carlisle debated plans to demolish 16 one-bedroom bedsits deemed no longer fit for purpose and replace them with 11 two and three-bedroom homes.

Housing association Riverside has come up with the proposals for Borland Avenue, Botcherby, saying they were in response to a need in the area for houses of that type. They were approved.

But one councillor criticised the plans, saying there would be an increase in demand for one-bedroom homes of the type to be bulldozed when the bedroom tax comes into force next month.

Under it, people of working age who are deemed to be “under occupying” – living in a home with more bedrooms than the Government says they need – will have housing benefit slashed by up to 25 per cent.

Someone deemed to have two “spare” bedrooms would be £1,300 a year worse off.

Robert Betton, who represents Botcherby, told Carlisle City Council’s development control committee that he estimated more than 100 two and three-bedroom homes in the area would become free in the coming months as people move to smaller properties to avoid being stung by the charges.

He said: “The current one-bed maisonettes there are adequate, and as people say rundown.

“Every resident has taken £5,000 each to be rehoused.

“Two and three-bed properties are proposed here because they are cheaper then one-bed properties – numbers of one-bed properties are running low.”

He added that the area regularly flooded and that his comments had been ignored.

Mr Betton said: “I suggest the development be deferred until the bed tax is in and we have up-to-date housing facts as we are basing a planning application on out of date information and reports that have not been submitted yet, a decision cannot be made until everything is there.”

He argued that figures had shown an overwhelming demand for one-bed properties and added that worried residents had approached him saying they were concerned they would end up on the streets.

But David Robinson, from Riverside, said that the company had a long-term business plan which included funding from the Homes and Communities Association. He added that if the plan was refused, then the funding could be diverted to other projects elsewhere in the county.

Councillor Willie Whalen said that knocking good houses down, in times of austerity, did not make sense – particularly with the forthcoming bedroom tax. But Councillor Ray Bloxham said that the previous buildings were not acceptable and added: “They were not fit for purpose.” Riverside, which manages Carlisle’s former council houses, has previously reported that one in five of its affected tenants has requested a move to a smaller property.

It has been claimed that the bedroom tax will hit 1,181 people in Carlisle, 1,766 in Copeland, 1,522 in Workington and 883 in Penrith and the Border.

First published at 08:12, Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk