Stephenson-Mohl Group’s Post

An interesting read over this mornings coffee... Local authorities will be able to buy land for social and affordable homes without paying “hope value” costs, under reforms implemented today (April 30). As part of the government’s Long-Term Plan for Housing, councils can now buy cheaper land “in certain circumstances” where Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) are used as “hope value” costs – what the land could be worth if developed in the future - will not apply. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said that under “hope value” estimates, councils were “forced to pay potentially thousands more to buy land for housing or developments and get stuck in lengthy disputes about costs”. Today’s change, it said, would “make it cheaper and easier for councils to transform communities by building new homes”. Under the Levelling Up & Regeneration Act, bodies including Homes England and councils using CPOs to build, can apply to the levelling up secretary to remove “hope value”. But development must be in the public interest and support affordable or social housing or health or educational purposes. DLUHC gave successful examples of CPOs “to facilitate development”, including the major regeneration of Leicester’s Waterside, featuring up to 500 new homes. Leicester City Council acquired the Friars Mills site through a CPO which helped bring derelict industrial land back into use, DLUHC said. Levelling up minister Jacob Young commented: “Our changes will act as a catalyst for investment in our towns and cities and drive much needed regeneration in communities across the country. “We know we need to build more homes and alongside our Long-Term Plan for Housing, these changes will help us do that, unlocking more sites for affordable and social housing, as well as supporting jobs and growing the economy.” https://lnkd.in/gaWvBEtX

Is Sadiq Khan too focused on implementing affordable housing ratios at the expense of overall delivery? Is Michael Gove justified in intervening in the London Plan? Or is his intervention, in Khan's words, merely a "cheap political stunt"? Much of this, of course, is politics in the run up to the General Election and the London Mayoral election in May. But on the ground, I'm hearing disgruntlement from developers about Khan's affordable housing ratios and how this is creating viability issues and slowing schemes, while there is also a huge deal of frustration about Gove's national housing and planning policies. Here Housing Today's Olivia B. explains how the mayor’s spatial development strategy become the centre of a spat between two political heavyweights in this year of multiple elections #housing 👇 https://lnkd.in/dCpMdEtg Housing Today's A Fair Deal for Housing campaign is calling for the next government to commission a review to identify how to increase affordable housing output to 100,000 homes a year. We believe government should consider reviewing existing funding for affordable housing, looking at grant rates, a longer-term rent settlement for social housing providers, a time-limited stimulus package to counteract the high cost of private funding and at mechanisms to lever in more institutional finance for ‘for-profit’ registered providers.https://https://lnkd.in/dNgEWGyA

Angela Rayner’s new planning reforms cut London’s housing target by 20,000 homes while increasing the national target to 370,000 homes annually. #housingcrisis #angelaRayner #planningreform #londonhousing #ukhousing #affordablehousing #housingtargets #newhomes #housingrevolution #pricedout #housingadvocacy #socialhousing #housingpolicy #urbanplanning #housingdevelopment #realestate #housingmarket #housingnews #housingupdate #housingreform #housingcrisisuk #housinggoals #housingstrategy #housingdebate #housingissues

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

Previous government interventions have created 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬' 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 £𝟐.𝟐𝐛𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖. In turn, this has created a council housing crisis. Labour could turn this around by establishing a new financial deal that encourages investment in council homes. Additionally, removing red tape on the Affordable Housing Programme would simplify the funding process, allowing progress to happen more quickly. #AffordableHousing #SocialHousing #HousingPolicy

New NEF analysis found around 109,000 former council homes started being let privately in the last 10 years. Our new report sets out how we can reform right to buy to fix our housing system - including devolving powers from Westminster to local councils. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eBXMkU26

**Mandatory housing targets at core of economy-focused king’s speech** Great news for social housing announced today! Local councils will have to adopt mandatory housing targets within months under planning reforms to be unveiled on today as part of the new government’s first King’s Speech, (Guardian 17 July 2024). At its core will be planning change, with the government having pledged that his party would be “builders, not blockers”. With the National Housing Federation estimating that the UK needs 1.5m new homes in this parliament it will certainly be a challenge for the entire sector which has delivered increasingly fewer homes in recent years. Of course the previous government had ambitious housing targets which it never achieved and it will be interesting to see if local councils, especially those with Conservative majorities, respond positively or not. #theGuardian #NHF #socialhousing

Political decisions shape the housing market. For better or worse, whichever party ends up on top at the next election has the power to make or break our attempts to meet the UK's housing need. In our latest blog, we look at what the major political parties have up their sleeves with regards housing policy and what that means for the next 5 years.   Check it out here:

Planning is such an important issue for businesses right now: 1. Policy must ensure new homes are built in suitable locations where people want to live. 2. Companies must not be forgotten - there needs to be a balance of land use for homes and business to support local economies and provide the jobs people need. 3. The BCC is taking action - alongside Aviva, and with matched Government funding, we are raising money to train new planners and provide extra capacity for local planning authorities.

To turn rhetoric to reality and end the housing crisis, the new government must recognise the role of housing associations as strategic delivery partners, writes Bronwen Rapley, chair of Homes for the North. https://lnkd.in/dZNir342 #UKhousing #HousingFinance #HousingAssociations