SENTINEL Housing Association has spoken out against the government’s controversial Housing and Planning Bill which, it suggests, could spell “the end of truly affordable housing”.

Based in Basingstoke and describing itself as “the only locally-run housing association in north Hampshire”, Sentinel has developments at Chawton Park Road in Alton, at Hazel Cottage in Lindford, and another in Headley.

It claims that, as a not-for-profit landlord, “any surplus from our £60m a year turnover is reinvested back into our neighbourhoods, such as on more upgrades of existing homes, regenerating outdated estates, or simply building more homes”.

But, talking as a provider of affordable homes, Sentinel believes the new bill could put the future of affordable housing provision under threat.

In a statement, Sentinel posed the hundred dollar question: “They say the bill will increase home ownership and boost levels of housebuilding that have dropped to their lowest peacetime levels since 1924. But what about those people who simply can’t afford to buy their own home?”

Mark Perry, chief executive of Sentinel Housing Association, explained why this bill could make life even more difficult for people on low incomes.

“The Department for Communities and Local Government have just released the housebuilding figures for 2014 and they make very interesting reading,” he said.

“In our operational area last year a total of 497,720 new homes were built. On the face of it that’s a pretty impressive number. But when you break that down into different tenures it reveals that only 71,340 of those were affordable homes and 83 per cent were built for sale by the private sector.

“With the average property price in the south east at over £341,000 it’s hard enough for high earners to buy a place of their own and for those on low incomes it’s impossible.

“Last year we built 422 brand new affordable homes and 132 of those were for shared ownership. That makes it easier for people to get onto the property ladder because they only need a mortgage for around 40 per cent of the property price which also means a smaller deposit. But we know that home ownership isn’t affordable for everyone and we want the government to recognise that too.

“We continue to be committed to building affordable housing because not everyone will be helped through these new measures to increase home ownership. And firmly believe that a good stock of social affordable homes is a necessity for this country. The future of such housing is under threat and we’ll all live in a poorer society without it.

“So much in this new bill will affect the work we do and our ability to help house those people on lower incomes who just want a decent home for themselves and their families.

“We’re facing the prospect of a society where people who can’t afford to buy their own home will have no option but to pay high private rent levels they can’t afford, without any security for their families.

“We believe that we must not return, whether supported by government or not, to the ‘Cathy come home’ scenario where people in desperate need of housing are living on the streets and homeless.

“And that’s why really affordable social housing matters.”