Fifty-nine NHS sites, including many former hospitals, have already been sold to housebuilders as part of the government’s public land sale programme to boost housing supply. Across the UK, only one in 10 of the homes built on the sold-off NHS sites analysed will be available at social rent. “These NHS sites are community assets – they should be used to deliver community benefits,” said Joe Beswick, housing lead at NEF. In November, the government announced nurses would have first refusal on affordable housing generated through the sale of surplus NHS land. “For NHS staff in particular, we announced plans in October last year to give first refusal on affordable housing schemes built on NHS land sold for development.”

Source: The Guardian January 09, 2018 00:00 UTC