"Localis is a driving force for change within the localist agenda"Rt. Hon. Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State, DCLG
"Localis commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries"Prof George Jones, LSE
"Localis is now firmly in the think tank Premiership"Paul Carter, Leader, Kent CC
"I would recommend any organisation with an interest in localism to join Localis"Emma Cariaga, Development Director, Land Securities
"Localis consistently offers fresh insight for councils to maximise the opportunities given to them"Richard Kemp, Liverpool CC
"Localis has an excellent reputation for pushing the boundaries of localism"Rt. Hon. Oliver Letwin MP, Minister for Policy
"Localis are out in front, pioneering the policies that will change our nation for the better"Rt. Hon. Greg Clark MP, Minister, DCLG

Tax changes for social housing

The Treasury changes stamp duty to encourage more social housing to be built

Author: Localis - May 7, 2009

Treasury changes to stamp duty land tax will allow arms length management organisations (ALMOs) - companies established by councils to manage housing stock - to develop and build new housing without paying this tax on prospective purchases. ALMOs currently manage over a million council homes and there is a great need to build more. Localis therefore welcomes these changes, but urges government to continue to reform rules limiting Council borrowing powers to provide housing. Councils should do all they can with the freedoms they already have, but we should not underestimate the impact government legislation is having.