Labour Housing Group’s Post

Good to see the budget tackling the social housing need.

Today the Chancellor set out the new Government's ambition to reform planning. These reforms are very welcome, but many will take time to impact on the UK's housing stock. That's why Kane Emerson and John Myers have set out three 'fast wins' to get Britain building. 1️⃣ Learn from Haringey Council and let residents build up. Gentle density is beautiful and practical, allowing home-owners to use their space more efficiently, and providing housing where it is most needed. 2️⃣ Street votes empower communities to encourage densification and value creation. Schemes have been enormously successful in Vancouver, Seoul and Tel Aviv. 3️⃣ Estate renewal should be a top priority for the new government. Ambitious renewal plans can fund new council homes for every existing resident through cross-subsidy, a win-win for councils and communities. Our planning system requires radical reform. But in the meantime, gentle densification can make a real, immediate difference to the UK's housing crisis. Read the full briefing: https://lnkd.in/ep9SJX6k

Yesterday's King's Speech was welcomed by many in the sector for the focus on housing and planning. Our chief financial officer Cris McGuinness, responded to the Speech in Inside Housing, praising the plan to ban no-fault evictions and saying that it is “heartening to see the new housing and planning bill at the centre of the new government’s first King’s Speech." She said: “As one of the biggest builders of affordable housing in England, streamlining the planning system will help unpick some of the blockages which stop economic growth and prevent the delivery of much needed new homes and infrastructure". However, Cris said that planning reform alone is “not enough". She said: “As economic conditions improve the government must provide significant grant funding to deliver the social homes we need. “The new government has been clear their number one priority is growing the economy. “Increasing the supply of social and affordable housing in generation has the potential to turbocharge growth as evidenced by analysis from the Centre for Economics and Business Research earlier this year – the government could add £51.2bn to the economy, including £12bn profit to the taxpayer, by building 90,000 social homes. “We understand public finances are tight. However, after years of uncertainty and underfunding our sector desperately needs stability so we urge the government to commit to a long-term settlement for social housing rents.”  Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eY37mQ3N

"With the sector broadly in favour of the government’s call to ‘Get Britain building again,’ many housing providers have welcomed the Autumn budget for providing a much-needed shot in the arm to kickstart growth and promote improvement. For some, it didn’t go far enough to address the systemic issues associated with social housing, leaving it to housing providers to balance urgent repairs programmes alongside bigger picture schemes to improve outcomes for residents in the long-term." 💷 'The Autumn Budget - Taking Stock' is now live and available to read on our website, offering insight into the implications of the Autumn Budget across the sector, as well as on the homeowners and communities we serve. 👀 To read the full piece, visit: https://lnkd.in/e2JN4wFB #DWG #autumnbudget #skills #puttingresidentsfirst

More Great news this weekend from Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner. This Tuesday the Government are due to unveil their new National Planning Policy Framework. The plan for delivering Social and Affordable Housing at scale, 'starting this Autumn' is yet more positive talk for our new build sector. This needs to be backed in  Autumn Statement financially; as recent conversations with our EN members has indicated that most RPs have run out of money for new developments until 2026. #affordabelhousing #socialhousing Efficiency North EN:Able Futures EN:Able Build Limited Homes England

In her recent landmark #speech, the new #Labour government's Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, outlined ambitious proposals for #devolution, with a focus on #partnering with local leaders to help address the #housingcrisis and revitalising the provision of #socialhousing and #affordablehomes. In the #Midlands region, we must look at the authorities facing the greatest numbers on their waiting lists in 2024 for #socialhousing. In #Birmingham, there are over 25,000 persons on the wait list (up 18% since 2018); in #Coventry 12,700 people await being housed (almost doubling since 2019) and #Sandwell has seen a staggering 28% increase since 2020 with 9,100 households on the social housing list. The #devolution plans (including fiscal autonomy) aim to provide increased flexibility in allocating #resources and implementing #strategies tailored to local conditions. By giving more direct control, it is anticipated that #localgovernment and authorities will be able to respond more quickly and appropriately to emerging housing crises, and direct resources and funds more precisely to the areas of greatest need within their jurisdictions. It is hoped that this approach might accelerate the building of #affordablehousing through increased borrowing/lending capabilities, and better retention of housing-related revenues. The plans are not however, without potential challenges, such as ensuring equitable distribution of resources across different regions, and maintaining national standards. The success of the proposals will depend on careful implementation and ongoing support from central #government, and to ensure the responsible use of devolved powers. We will need to see accountability frameworks in place that aim to increase transparency, and ensure that decisions are made closer to the communities they affect. The new approach does however represent a significant shift from previous policies, emphasising #Labour's commitment to solving the #housingcrisis through empowering #localcommunities. As with any major policy shift, the true impact of the plans will only become clear as they are implemented and refined over time. It remains to be seen how more innovative, localised approaches evolve and, as they are implemented with success, whether such solutions are shared and replicated elsewhere within the country. Shakespeare Martineau Ampa - Legal & Professional Services Social Housing Lucy Caldicott Richard Parker Sharon Thompson, JP Louise Drew Neil Gosling Centre for the New Midlands Chris Smith Halima Sacranie Laura Shoaf, CBE Emma Harris Anita Rasaratnam Luke Hillson Alex Cole FRSA TIN Ventures Anita Rasaratnam #shmalaw #housingcrisis #labour #uk #housing

My thoughts below on the Budget and Housing Bill changes and how they may impact on the Scottish housing market. I think we can cope with one of these, less so with the other.

Kate Henderson's interview with martin hilditch in Inside Housing on our #PlanForHousing campaign. 🏘️ “I think bringing forward a housing strategy in the spring means there’s an opportunity to align it with the Spending Review, and the Spending Review will obviously set out the government’s big commitments over the course of this parliament. So, it makes sense to have the strategy sit hand-in-glove with that. But what we are really keen to see with this long-term strategy is for it to be truly long-term. So, while it makes sense to align with the Spending Review, we would like to be thinking about 10 years minimum, but ideally longer – 20 to 30 years. Actually thinking about the future of housing in this country.” 📰 https://lnkd.in/epC9JB8E

Did you know that housing affects more than just where we live? It impacts mental health, stability, and community well being. The Plan for Housing campaign from the National Housing Federation highlights this in a powerful way. It calls for a long term, cross sector housing strategy to tackle issues that ripple through all aspects of life. As part of the work of the #APPG on Healthy Healths and Jade Lewis this is a reminder that stable, affordable housing plays a crucial role in people's well being. In construction operations at Equans UK & Ireland, I see how our projects influence this landscape. But the report makes it clear we need more collaborative action to promote sustainable living and support mental health. The idea of a shared vision for better housing is inspiring. It’s a call to action for leaders and professionals to come together and push for policies that make a real difference. What initiatives or ideas do you think could help achieve better housing and improved well being? #PlanForHousing #CommunityWellBeing #MentalHealthAwareness #Sustainability #Leadership

"With the sector broadly in favour of the government’s call to ‘Get Britain building again,’ many housing providers have welcomed the Autumn budget for providing a much-needed shot in the arm to kickstart growth and promote improvement. For some, it didn’t go far enough to address the systemic issues associated with social housing, leaving it to housing providers to balance urgent repairs programmes alongside bigger picture schemes to improve outcomes for residents in the long-term." 💷 'The Autumn Budget - Taking Stock' is now live and available to read on our website, offering insight into the implications of the Autumn Budget across the sector, as well as on the homeowners and communities we serve. 👀 To read the full piece, visit: https://lnkd.in/eUak6BUG #DWG #autumnbudget #skills #puttingresidentsfirst