McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd’s Post

Changes to the way major decisions are made around transport, housing, skills and investment to benefit local people in Greater Lincolnshire are a step closer today. In a historic moment, the “Statutory Instrument” which is required to form the new devolved Greater Lincolnshire County Combined Authority (GLCCA) has been laid in Parliament. Read more: https://lnkd.in/erkMe-Nk

"Many of these cost increases are outside of housing associations’ immediate control. Nonetheless, there are several things we can do to insulate residents from some of the inflationary pressures we’re facing. One is retendering or in-sourcing services where possible to improve value for money. At Southern, we’ve recently brought our cleaning and grounds maintenance services in Sussex in-house and have done likewise for our day-to-day repairs services in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and Berkshire." "A minority of managing agents impose cost increases with limited explanation or opportunities for us to challenge. To address this, we’ve established a dedicated team to better hold managing agents to account. Going forward, we’ll only take on homes through section 106 where we know the managing agent can deliver the high standards of customer service and charging transparency we demand." #housing In Housing Today, chief executive at Southern Housing, Paul Hackett CBE and honorary professor at the The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction UCL discusses the issue of rising service charges, how this is out of the hands of housing associations' and how the housing provider aims to stop them from increasing. https://lnkd.in/egndWY5e

Looking forward to the round table with the Local Government and Housing committee at the Senedd, on the key challenges to affordable housing delivery. The 20k, decarb vs new build and public land, whilst not forgetting the most important piece here, engagement with communities - our customers.. can it all be done??

In an article with The Daily Reporter, Baker Tilly’s Kaitlin Konyn discusses the impact of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which extends the deadline for Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to apply for the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program to September 30, 2029. This extension gives PHAs additional time to convert public housing into Section 8 rental assistance and simplifies the RAD/Section 18 blend process. Read more: https://bit.ly/3xraiTv  #Housing #RAD #Section18

There is a lot to digest in the draft new NPPF and the sound bites associated with it. We will do doubt hear a lot about 'getting Britain building'; 'fixing the foundations'; 'removing barriers to growth' and making 'tough decisions' over the next few weeks but the intent is clear, more housing, and especially affordable housing, will be built with a duty being placed on each English council to identify enough land to meet the level of need calculated using a common methodology. Land is to be identified using a brownfield first sequential approach moving onto grey belt and then sustainable green belt locations. In those areas with no green belt, the approach will move from brownfield to sustainable greenfield. Where sufficient land cannot be identified it should be met in neighbouring authorities. I found Angela Rayner's comment in her statement that "decisions about what to build should reflect local views, but that should be about how, not whether, to deliver new homes" to be particularly telling of the new attitude. Whatever your views on these proposals, there will be a lot of councils which delayed their local plans in the hope that their housing targets would go down under the former conservative regime ruing that decision as they are faced with even greater targets today.

Just returned from a week's leave to these latest proposed changes to our planning system. Refreshing, firstly, that a Government has stuck to a timescale commitment for consulting on the NPPF, and secondly, that the rhetoric is both bold and ambitious. Just hoping now that the proposed reforms do not get diluted as a result of the consultation responses - the industry appears at first flush to be broadly supportive; it will be interesting to gauge how the general public react. Then it's all about delivering the changes needed. Watch this space!

Addressing the Rising Cost of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in District 7 The rising cost of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a challenge for our city and District 7. Inflation, supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages have increased costs for infrastructure projects such as roads, schools, and stormwater improvements. While these investments are necessary, we must ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. I will work to prioritize essential projects while exploring cost-saving measures to prevent unnecessary spending. Some projects may need to be phased in over time, restructured, or adjusted to ensure the best use of public funds. Transparency is key—I will push for clear public reporting on where CIP funds are allocated so residents know how their tax dollars are being used. Instead of increasing the tax burden, I will pursue alternative funding sources such as state and federal grants, public-private partnerships, and regional collaborations. By leveraging outside resources, we can reduce financial strain on residents while still improving infrastructure. As your City Council representative, I am committed to fiscal responsibility, accountability, and community involvement. I will ensure that residents have a voice in shaping the future of District 7’s infrastructure while advocating for smart investments that support growth and quality of life. Virginia Beach must plan responsibly for the future, and I will work to balance investment with affordability, ensuring that our community thrives without overburdening taxpayers. #FiscalResponsibility #SmartInvestments #District7VB #InfrastructureMatters #TransparentGovernment https://lnkd.in/ewSHxWYh?

Will be interested to know what role the private sector plays in the solution. Yes we need to build more affordable housing but also building more of everything ultimately improves access to affordable housing AND can facilitate the necessary infrastructure. Research shows this. Some interesting academic work here on the subject: https://lnkd.in/eiVYsx3T The irony of the timing of the Mossend decision last week is not lost on me! See also my previous post around the timing of new houses in New LDPs - post 2030 before they deliver. We need to plug the gap with pragmatic policy making, not eco-populism. AND the industry needs to raise the profile and positive messaging around the industry to drown out the NIMBYS and give a voice to the YIMBYS. We need to give reasons for politicians to support our efforts, the first ones who knock on the politicians doors are the ones who want development stopped at all costs.

🏘🏘 In a bold move to tackle the UK's housing crisis, the Government has revamped the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to pave the way for the delivery of 1.5m new homes over the next five years. Here, experienced planning lawyer Elaine Field outlines what changes the new NPPF brings and how they’ll affect the housing sector and local authorities. 👉 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/epQKa97g ➡ Explore our housing expertise: https://lnkd.in/er8F8cpx

Housing policy: Disconnect or different perspectives? 🏠 In his latest article, Martin Walker explores the challenges in balancing ambitious housing goals with local government priorities. While central government pushes forward with targets to “get Britain building,” councils are facing complex, immediate issues—like temporary accommodation and stock condition—that go beyond new builds. Is there a true disconnect, or are we tackling shared challenges from different angles? 🤔 🔗 Read the full article on our website to learn more about Local Partnerships’ insights and support for councils navigating these critical housing issues: https://lnkd.in/eRiEyhaX 💻 We also have a free webinar on 7 November on practical guidance on housing delivery vehicles - sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eTW8MdmS #housingpolicy #homelessness