Francesca Lewis

Two weeks ago 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 joined the National Housing Federation’s #PlanForHousing campaign. Its chief executive Kate Henderson tells martin hilditch why the next few months are critical to the future of housing in England https://lnkd.in/epC9JB8E #UKhousing #Housing #SocialHousing #HousingPolicy #BuildSocial #AssetManagement #Housebuilding #Homelessness #HousingFinance #Homeownership #HousingAssociations #Councils #UKgovernment

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Away from the #NPPF (for now), time to highlight important research published by Homes England, undertaken by SQW. This research objective was to measure the wellbeing impacts associated with the provision of homes specifically designed to meet the needs of older people. It also looked for evidence of fiscal savings that may be generated by providing these types of homes. It found interesting results and suggests areas for further research. Have a look. This is relevant in the context of the Older People's Housing Taskforce (yes that is still around and yet to publish its final report). https://lnkd.in/e85mxaR9

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I rather think that the bigger issue with the planning system - in addressing the housing crisis - is the slow (and sometimes absent) progression of development plans. Look forward to more on that soon. Granted the DC process can be very slow and unnecessarily politicised but Officer approach, and of course lack of resource, is commonly equally responsible for delays as the involvement of planning committees in decision making. This move will help but it’s certainly not a silver bullet on its own (appreciate that it’s not been badged as that). Just goes to highlight that the issues need to be tackled at multiple levels and stages.

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The GLA has published the Accelerating Housing Delivery Planning and Housing Practice Note, which provides additional guidance to support short term housing delivery in the capital. This sets out a range of planning and housing measures to help: » Increase overall housing supply and provide additional affordable homes; » Incentivise developers to follow the London Plan Fast Track Route; » Support the delivery of social rent and intermediate rent housing for middle income households including key workers, including through the introduction of a new grant rate under the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26; » Encourage the delivery of supported housing and accommodation for homeless households; » Incentivise early delivery and build out of residential developments; » Support the purchase of affordable housing units secured through the planning system, including through providing funding to switch to more affordable housing tenures, for example from shared ownership to social rent or intermediate rent. It sits alongside other work to deliver the Mayor’s 2024 Manifesto including the delivery of council homes, rent controlled Key Worker Living Rent Homes and the City Hall Developer. It is an initial step in supporting housing delivery alongside developing a new London Plan. https://lnkd.in/eZDpC57i One to take a look at in the New Year if you’ve now signed off for the break …!

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For anyone that has not already seen the earlier post, the GLA has published a planning and housing practice note on Accelerating Housing Delivery in London. This sets out a range of planning and funding measures to support housing delivery and affordable housing provision in the short term (key aspects summarised in previous post below). These are best considered together, and also in conjunction with other GLA work on housing delivery which the practice note supplements and builds on, including: » The London Housing Delivery Taskforce Joint position statement put forward by the Mayor and partners from across the housing sector in 2023, which set out a range of recommendations, a number of which have now been addressed in the Autumn Statement and elsewhere; » The Accelerated Funding Route published last year which provides more certainty to investment partners and developers on grant availability; » Work to deliver the Mayor’s 2024 Manifesto including the provision of council homes, rent controlled Key Worker Living Rent Homes and the City Hall Developer. The GLA is also working closely with government on initiatives to increase housing delivery, including as a part of its New Homes Accelerator programme. The practice note is an initial step in supporting housing delivery under the framework of the current London Plan. A further stage of engagement on a new plan will start in March 2025 - if you would like to receive updates on this please register here: https://lnkd.in/eWHHc2Ba An updated link to the practice note (with updated publication date) is available here: https://lnkd.in/eqdJrFpE Thanks to GLA colleagues and others for their contributions, particularly Daniel Maton Luca Dellepiane Alexis Harris Kate Webb Deborah Halling

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Headlines from our response to the Senedd's social housing supply inquiry: ✅ Long-term, joined-up strategy vital to address housing crisis ✅ Overall funding environment must reflect strategic priorities ✅ Systemic barriers to development need tackling ✅ Urgent action on process issues preventing new homes being built needed Read our reply to the Local Government and Housing Committee's inquiry, and detailed recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/e2kZSg_a

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Plans for Redditch’s new Community Hub are to change, after Redditch Borough Council’s Executive Committee voted to withdraw an invitation to Redditch Library to move into it. The decision at last night’s (July 29) Executive meeting means the borough council will now work on bringing other tenants into the town’s developing multi-agency hub at a transforming Redditch Town Hall. Council Leader, Cllr Joe Baker, said: “After working on this issue for two years as a key campaign pledge, and after the people of Redditch gave us a resounding mandate through the ballot box in May’s election, we can finally say that we have stopped the move that would have led to the demolition of the library. We can now get on with a more suitable community hub.” The council will now formally notify Worcestershire County Council, the owner and operator of Redditch Library and its current building, of the decision, and work on new hub plans. It also means the council will now work with the Redditch Town Deal Board and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine the most effective alternative use for the £4m of Towns Fund money previously approved for the redevelopment of the library site. Cllr Baker added: “We want to see the Towns Fund money used to boost Redditch, not demolish a much-used community asset. Those conversations are already happening, and we look forward to working with all parties on a resolution that benefits Redditch.” New reports on revised hub plans and the Towns Fund money are now expected before the council’s Executive Committee in September.

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From Crisis to Transformation: A Federal Housing Policy Agenda I am so very proud to be part of the National Housing Crisis Task Force (Visit: https://lnkd.in/e4bhEr2C) as we launch From Crisis to Transformation: A Federal Housing Policy Agenda. Today, on the eve of #ElectionDay, we issue an urgent call for action: treat the housing crisis like a true crisis. Our bipartisan Task Force, convened by the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and Accelerator for America, calls on the federal government to lead decisively, restructure programs to boost housing production and preservation, remove regulatory barriers, and support the creation of an additional 750,000 new units annually. Our agenda outlines 40 critical reforms that will support renters, reduce homelessness, bolster homeownership, and drive innovation in housing—bringing the American Dream within reach for millions. With #housingpolicy on ballots across the country, this moment demands a coalition of public and private leadership. We’re ready to take action. Download the full report at: https://lnkd.in/e9wqW8AD #HousingCrisis #NationalHousingCrisisTaskForce #HousingForAll

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Although the survey is based on data from about a third of LPAs, these findings resonate. We desperately need to attract planners into the public sector. I’m a big fan of initiatives such as Public Practice and apprenticeships, but fundamentally the whole profession and leaders in the public sector need to respect the work that public sector planners do. The rewards of working for the decision makers in a context with close links to the communities that will face the impacts/benefits of the development are just two of the pros of public sector work that those of us on this ‘side’ of planning need to champion.

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Parties are making big housing commitments in their #GeneralElection2024 manifestos. 🔴 But housing is devolved. So what do these promises actually mean for Wales and social housing? 👉 Find out in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/egAaZ_hk

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The Housing Forum welcomes the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) announced today (https://lnkd.in/ea4Qk23q) and believes that the new approach will help to deliver much-needed new homes across England.   Stephen Teagle, Chair of the Board of The Housing Forum said: As the cross-sector body for the housing sector, we are aware of the multitude of challenges involved in scaling up housebuilding. However, the need for new housing has never been higher, and we welcome the Government's ambitious approach and clear rhetoric that there can be no excuse for failing to deliver much-needed new homes.   We are particularly pleased to see the new higher housing targets and the measures announced today to focus these strongly where housing is least affordable. Together with a less rigid approach to greenbelt the new approach should help to ensure there is sufficient land allocated for housing. These new supply side measures are welcome.   There is also an urgent need for investment in skills and training for the workforce required. And to bring forward the social housing that's needed most urgently by people facing homelessness, the government also needs to increase grant funding for the Affordable Homes Programme, and help social landlords to invest their own resources via certainty of future rental income and access to the Building Safety Fund. .   The Housing Forum's Roadmap to 1.5 million new homes (https://lnkd.in/eejY2uQG) sets out what else the housing sector believes the government needs to do to deliver its ambitions. 

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The Regulator of Social Housing published the annual review of its consumer regulation work for the past year. The report provides important learnings for all social landlords – including councils and housing associations – which they can use to strengthen their approach to delivering the outcomes in RSH’s consumer standards. The report reinforces several important points for landlords. They must: • Meet all health and safety requirements to keep tenants safe • Know the condition of tenants’ homes and have accurate, up-to-date data on them • Have an effective complaints handling process in place • Engage effectively with tenants and treat them with fairness and respect • Refer themselves to RSH when they find a material issue, or a potential material issue, so it can be resolved promptly if required Read more: https://lnkd.in/eiw7vyKu #socialhousing #healthandsafety, Rose Klemperer, Louise Mansfield, Sarah Orchard

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#HDN - it was an interesting session at the event with Amanda Dubarry & Kevin Maxwell MBE presenting to us about how boards can be more inclusive through different pathways, including Next Generation Trustees similar to what many Housing associations & Social Lanflord boards are doing with Board Designatee so as to allow for better succession planning on boards and helping to improve the diversity of the board. Rgds Mukesh Malhotra, BEM, BCAv, PHF, MSC, CISM

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Accessibility in housing is critical

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St Helens’ new proposed #housing target has been reduced by 13% according to Local Government Chronicle . The new target now stands at 718 homes per year. ⬇️

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Homes England has taken several big leaps this year to radically enhance how it works with local leaders and places - to deliver new homes and vibrant communities. Our Strategic Place Partnerships (SPPs), which are included as part of the Devolution White Paper - published on Monday, show how the Agency is creating long term partnerships to deliver local areas housing and regeneration priorities. We’re looking forward to both expand and deepen these SPPs in 2025. #WeAreHomesEngland #regeneration #housing #homes #socialvalue

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We've published our report on social value within London’s future planning policy: You can read it here https://lnkd.in/eJACgrAZ Social value in its simplest form is the holistic set of benefits that can be drawn from the places where we live and work. "Social value should not be seen as an academic concept understood by a few, but as a practical call to action affecting us all" @David_J_Elliott @mariaadebowale, LSDC Commissioners & Social Value Sub-group Chairs Highlights: A consistent SV definition is needed Strong appetite for SV from planning authorities exists There's a lack of clear guidance from central Gov Stakeholders acknowledge their role in maximising SV Better community input needed for impactful decision making

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New research from Nationwide Building Society shows that house price growth has been faster in predominantly rural areas, where it has risen by 22% over the the last five years, compared with 17% in predominantly urban areas

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The English Devolution White Paper, setting out proposals for enhanced devolved powers across England's regions, has now been published by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.   The measures announced include proposals to create ‘strategic authorities’ across England, bringing together councils over areas that people live and work in, to avoid duplication and give cities and regions a bigger voice. Read more below #planning #devolution

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