An ODPM advisory group has been set up to examine whether new choice-based letting schemes, which aim to give tenants greater choice over where they live, are leading to racial segregation.

The group will be chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale, chief executive of Turning Point, and will include 14 representatives from specialist diversity and housing organisations, as well as local authorities, RSLs and the Housing Corporation.

The group has been set up following an ODPM select committee hearing in May, which recommended that the government abolish choice-based lettings to ensure greater racial integration. It said the lettings made the promotion of social cohesion more difficult.

The ODPM has denied any link between the committee鈥檚 findings and the establishment of the group. It said the group would also examine how lettings and allocation legislation affect BME groups.

Lord Victor Adebowale said last Friday this was 鈥渁n opportunity to bring BME communities into the mainstream of creating and implementing housing policy鈥�.

Source

Housing Today