Petition · past parliament

To stop viability studies being used as a means to not meet social housing needs

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

we are infuriated at this method being constantly used to get out of social housing obligations but unfortunately with these big companies, they have the financial means to keep protesting their case and essentially knowing they will get their end goal using this approach.
We are in the midst of a housing crisis across the UK and if we could stop these lathe organisations using this technique to get out of their social housing obligations, there would be more social/affordable housing for local people. Massively helping to relieve the UK housing crisis facing many low income families.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

Petitions need to call on the Government or Parliament to take a specific action.

We understand that you are concerned about developers challenging local authority policy on the provision of social housing, but we're not sure exactly what you want the Government or Parliament to do.

It is up to individual local authorities what planning obligations to impose on developers in respect of affordable housing. Developers can appeal against planning obligations, and appeals are considered on the basis of whether the evidence indicates that the current cost of building out the entire site (at today’s prices) is at a level that would enable the developer to sell all the market units on the site at a rate of build out evidenced by the developer, and make a competitive return to a willing developer and a willing landowner.

It's not clear whether you want the process for appealing against affordable housing obligations to be changed, or removed.

You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do.

Timeline

31 May 2023 Petition opened for signatures
5 Jun 2023 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 5 Jun 2023

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.