The main needs for the human race are food, shelter and water. But we have hunger, homelessness and dirty water, on a global scale.

Why are so many people obsessed with property values? It’s the cost of property that's causing many of the issues. If we paid more for our food and less for housing much would be improved.

Nearly 50 years ago, Mrs Thatcher spoke of the Conservative commitment to a propertyowning democracy. We now have many renting, who will never be in a position to buy their own home. There are young professional workers with good salaries, having a job to pay the monthly bills.

Between the world wars, the average family spent 50% of their wages on food and 10% on housing, mainly rent at that time. Today we spend 50% of our wages on Housing & 10% on food. If we were to spend more on food and less on housing, all would benefit.

I recently went into a supermarket and purchased a packet of beetroot. They were sown, grown and harvested in Lincolnshire, cooked and delivered and put on the shelves. They cost £1 – no one made any money from that! Now the governments around the world are wanting to rewild the land and pay farmers to retire, while we see an increase in global population and people becoming refugees.

It is reported we need to build more homes to make the market prices more affordable but, if more can make them less expensive, why can't they be less in the first place? The answer is simple, but either politicians don’t understand or are choosing not to for some reason, they still want this system to continue.

We are experiencing an increase in depression and mental health issues; food banks are seeing more families in need of help in feeding themselves. Many are finding it difficult to buy or rent a house. with some having suicidal thoughts, there are flooding and sewage disposal issues. While developers believe they can build anywhere they please.

The developers can advertise the market homes to attract families who have sold a property in London for example, with vast sums of capital to spend. Any so-called affordable homes can be advertised anywhere in the country often to break up the gangs in run down areas. For many it’s the cost of market housing and high rents causing the many issues we have in villages & Towns. Do we need this? 

All Districts should create a Community Land Trust, where one could purchase a home, but not be allowed to sell it onto the open market, and only sell the home back to the Trust, so to keep the affordability for future generations, many of our social issues & health problems would be solved. There could be a levy on each house to be given to the Local Council to use for enlarging the village shop, or replacing the shop, so as to be able to supply the needs of the village resident and saving families travelling to the nearest town to shop. An employment hub is needed on new developments so residents can work close to home, not at home, as there can be many distractions while working from home entirely. The enclosed design would be used. This would be built on a steel frame off the ground, so saving much flooding we are experiencing of recent times, with underground water tanks. There would be tanks to use the water for flushing the toilets, and watering the self-sufficient gardens in the dry times. There would be solar panels on the long roof. Some Councils are creating museums in villages by not allowing new homes in villages

If one considered a Parish Council, and asked how many children they were responsible for, it would probably be at least 12. They would equate to eventually the need for 6 more homes, that's just the Parish Council. There is a need for Workers on the land to be able to live on site or close to their working place, with some small business working units, in the villages. This brings in sporting activities as well as employment.

For example, the HS2 land that was compulsory purchased, and now will be sold, this could be used to house those in need of a home. It is said there could be10,000 homes at the Euston Quarter and 4,000 at Earls Court London, all these could be real affordable homes, and could be as in the enclosed presentation.

If the Government wants to end homelessness and house the one million people on the housing waiting list, the enclosed would be a way forward to achieve this. Building 30% affordable housing will need 2 million unaffordable houses for the majority. While we don’t have enough land now to feed a growing population!

If one had purchased a house for £25,000, say 50 years ago, and sold it now for £225.000 it may give them a feel-good factor, as the £200,000 would be a gift. But, if they sold the house to a young family that becomes a debt, and it would take several years to pay it off, creating traffic gridlock & air pollution on the way, plus the stress mentioned above.

The £36 Billion we spend on Housing benefit would build all the homes we need. The capital would be used over & over again. Instruct developers to build what is needed, not what they can sell for maximum gains. 

We need to stop building to rent, as rent never ends, and not selling new builds on to the market. Adding to that, there is a campaign group asking for a four-day working week. If houses continue going up, and rents keep increasing we will need to be working a six-day week!

If we were to have a cheaper housing system, as enclosed, we could work a four-day week, once the mortgage is paid off. A family Care plan could come into play after the mortgage has been paid. I am inviting housing charities to group together to campaign for a new way for housing the population. There ought to be a survey with young people to ask if they would rather not be on a property ladder.

The enclosed design would improve our health, built off the ground with a steel fame, with a self-sufficient garden to grow fresh fruit & vegetables for the residents, Solar panels along the roof, save water run-off and use the water for the gardens in the dry times, having underground storage tanks. While each department would have their own cookers, why have several cookers going when a few large cookers could serve the estate residents.

Child Care and a sports complex could be on new developments, and a community centre.

Everyone needs a purpose. There are young people not wanting to get a job, as they have no purpose in work or family connections. We have a broken system that needs to change!

If you visit my website at, www.theplanetandpeoplecoalition.co.uk see heading Think Global Live Local, you will find what I am suggesting.

You can contact me by email at lvkeeley45@gmail.com Laurence Keeley, 6 Fairfield, Herstmonceux, East Sussex, BN27 4NE

Community Land Trusts.

Where planning permission has been granted for large scale developments, but building has not actually started, there should be an order for a Community Land Trust to be included on the site, where building would include a self-sufficient garden to feed the residents, natural habitats for protecting wildlife, recreation areas and the inclusion of inter-generational living. This style of living encourages health and well-being, which in-turn reduces mental health issues, obesity and diabetes. Much of our aging population loneliness and the younger generation’s anti-social behaviour stems from poor housing estate design and lack of affordability. These are illustrations of what could be built on a Community Land Trust site.