Briefings, Reports and Toolkits
March 2010
Warm Homes, Greener Homes: A Strategy for Household Energy Management
The Northern Housing Consortium welcomes the Governments new strategy for Household Energy Management "Warmer Homes, Greener Homes".
The strategy sets out key actions that should result in achieving a reduction of 29% in carbon emissions by 2020. The strategy sets out ambitions including:
- Every home (where it is practicable) will have loft and cavity wall insulation by 2015
- Every home in Britain will have a smart meter and display to help them better manage their use of energy
- Up to 7 million households will have had an eco- upgrade (could include solid wall insulation, heat pumps)
- Introduction of a Warm Standard for social housing
- Wider take up of district heating in urban areas
- Boost to employment as up to 65,000 jobs created in the new industry of energy efficiency.
- Invest to save approach funded by energy companies - under new obligations to work with Local Authorities
- Universal advice and support for consumers.
Please click here for the briefing paper in full.
We will be publishing a more detailed briefing on the this Household Energy Management Strategy by early next week which will set out some practical steps that the NHC is taking to support you in preparing for this strategy.
If you have any comments on the strategy or would like to engage with the Consortium in shaping our procurement framework please do not hesitate to contact us.
December 2009
Accommodating a Greener Future II
"Accommodating a Greener Future" highlights how low carbon homes are being built, how existing stock can be retrofitted to improve its carbon footprint and how organisations are working with their staff, tenants and residents to meet this challenge.
October 2008
October 2008
Housing & Regeneration Act 2008 - briefing paper
After considerable debate and numerous amendments the Housing and Regeneration Act received royal assent on 22 July 2008. The Act aims to support the delivery of an additional 240,000 new homes per year by 2016, meeting the current and future housing needs of the population through the most important shift in the housing policy and delivery landscape in years. The Act creates the Homes and Community Agency a new investment agency for housing, and the Tenants Services Authority a new regulator of social housing as well as other provisions designed to support the delivery of housing. This briefing paper outlines the key provisions of the act and provides some analysis of the implications for the north.
Sale and Rent Back - An OFT market Study
On the 15 October 2008, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published their findings from their Sale and rent back study launched in May 2008 in response to widespread concerns that homeowners in vulnerable positions were entering into sale and rent back arrangements erroneously believing that they had secure tenure for the medium to long term and concerns that consumers take almost all of the risk in the sale and rent back transaction and they may not be fully aware of these risks.
The Northern Housing Consortium welcomes the reports recommendations including the main recommendation for the sale and rent back sector to be subject to statutory regulation with better protection for consumers. To download the report and the key recommendations please click here http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/market-studies/saleandrent. If anyone has any comments on the report, please contact Helen Kerridge, Senior Policy & Research Officer via email: helen.kerridge@northern-consortium.org.uk
The Consortium has previously responded to the National Landlords Association (NLA) 'Sale and Rent Back Code of Practice' consultation paper in which we emphasised the importance of delivering high standards in the sale and rent back sector to protect vulnerable customers at risk of losing their home Consultation Response.
August 2008
Working in conjunction with Peter Fletcher Associates the Northern Housing Consortium is delighted to launch a package of practical help and support tools specifically designed for sheltered housing providers, with a discount on the published prices for members of the Northern Housing Consortium.
The aspirations of older people are changing, and increasingly sheltered housing providers face issues of lettability and stock condition.
This has led to many providers identifying the need to appraise their sheltered stock and service to ensure sustainability.
We understand that needs differ greatly from provider to provider, and so we have developed a pick and mix menu of service options to choose from including property surveys, resident surveys, option appraisal and business planning.
To download a brochure detailing the support tools available and the costs please click on the link below:-
Making your Sheltered Housing stock and service fit for purpose
If you wish to discuss these options further and learn how you can obtain the Northern Housing Consortium discount, please contact:
Avis Duncan, Peter Fletcher Associates Sarah Taylor, Northern Housing Consortium
01434 684944 0191 5661000
info@peterfletcherassociates.co.uk
Sarah.taylor@northern-consortium.org.uk
www.peterfletcherassociates.co.uk
July 2008
Regional Accountability: Third Report of Session 2007-08
In July 2007, the Prime Minister put forward proposals for improved democratic accountability and scrutiny of the delivery of public services in the English regions, as part of The Governance of Britain Green Paper. This Committee's inquiry into Regional Accountability has invited evidence on possible models of accountability; the role of the House in regional accountability; and the level of resources that would be needed to make regional accountability work in the House of Commons.
The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons recommend that the most effective way to strengthen regional accountability to Parliament would be to establish a system of regional select committees.
Sale and Rent Back
Sale and rent back arrangements involve individual homeowners selling their property at a discount in return for the option to remain in the home as a tenant and are generally taken up by consumers in financial difficulty facing possible repossession of their homes. Sale and rent back is a relatively new market which appears to be growing quickly as the number of repossessions increase in the current economic climate. While sale and rent back schemes can be helpful for some consumers, there are growing concerns about whether consumers, in difficult circumstances, are making well informed choices. On the 14 May 2008, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) launched a market study looking at the sale and rent back sector and examined consumers' experience of sale and rent back transactions to ensure that homeowners entering such arrangements are adequately protected and making informed choices. The OFT is contacting key parties directly. However, other interested parties can submit written views by 14th June 2008. If any of our members are submitting written information around this study, could you please send a copy of your response to the Northern Housing Consortium via Helen Kerridge, Senior Policy and Research Officer at: helen.kerridge@northern-consortium.org.uk
April 2008
Inclusive Design: How a simple potato peeler help you revolutionise your housing service
The north's housing markets are changing - the population is ageing and we can expect radical changes in lifestyle and expectations in the future. This discussion paper considers the concept of Inclusive Design - a process which ensures that products and services address the needs of the widest possible audience, regardless of age or ability. Familiar and popular items such as the 'good grips' potato peeler and trolley style suitcase have been created using the principles of Inclusive Design, enabling these products to not only meet the needs of older and disabled people but a wide audience of consumers willing to pay for products which are stylish, convenient and easy to use.
Inclusive Design has risen up the policy agenda following the launch of the National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society to become the subject of much debate in the housing sector. But how can the principles of Inclusive Design help you to create homes, neighbourhoods and services which not only respond to, but importantly capitalise upon, the north's changing markets? Where can we see Inclusive Design in practice and what are the key questions we need to ask?
This paper is the first of a series of discussion and findings papers to be published as part of the development work for the 'Age Friendly Community' design project. The paper seeks feedback and input from members and the wider housing community into the project and ensures that the full breadth of issues you are facing will be tackled through the project. For more information contact Sarah Taylor, Policy and Practice Development Manager.
January 2008
The Calcutt Review of Housebuilding DeliveryThe Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery proposes changes in the housebuilding industry in order to achieve 240,000 new homes a year by 2016, at an affordable price, which is commercially viable and, contributes to meeting the Government's ambitious zero carbon targets. In its recommendations, the Review set out five propositions to meet the challenge of aligning government targets on building more housing to low carbon standards, with the industry's commercial objectives of providing returns to their shareholders.
This briefing paper is intended to highlight and provide commentary on some of the key findings and recommendations set out in the Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery. It also considers the implications and concerns of the Review for housing in the North of England, to assist Consortium members to understand, prepare for and
respond to these findings and recommendations.
November 2007
Buy-to-Let and Buy-to-Leave: Sustaining or saturating the market?
There has been much media attention given to the effects that buy-to-let and buy-to-leave investors are having on house prices, housing markets and local communities. This new research from the Northern Housing Consortium looks in detail at five separate towns and cities across the North analysing the impact that the buy-to-let and buy-to-leave phenomena are having in different places. The five case studies were Bolton, Burnley, Carlisle, Preston and Sunderland and in all five areas buy-to-let was found to be a factor contributing to increasing property prices.
The Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery
The Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery Report www.callcuttreview.co.uk was published in November 2007. This report highlights the findings and recommendations of an independent review undertaken by John Callcutt of the housebuilding structure and business model, including land building, and the capability of the industry to deliver increased housing supply in a low/zero carbon environment.
The Northern Housing Consortium responded to this review in April 2007 and is currently producing a summary paper of the implications of this review for the North of England. If anyone has any concerns/issues or comments they would like to make on the findings and recommendations of the Review for the North, please forward them to helen.kerridge@northern-consortium.org.uk.
IGP
Northern Housing Consortium has been commissioned by the Housing Corporation to undertake a project exploring means by which affordable housing delivery can be improved across the North through better management of our land resources. The Consortium is considering how effective housing organisations in the North are in the release of land for affordable housing and we are keen to support members to overcome obstacles hindering progress and to promote innovation in the development of new models to support opportunities to bring forward land for development.
Facing the northern land challenge is the first in a series of discussion papers to be published during the project timeframe. The paper seeks to explore some of the key challenges that may be inhibiting delivery of land. Identifying and overcoming barriers for delivery in the North is the second paper in the series and focuses primarily on the initial learning from the demonstrator projects and the barriers that they have been facing. Our aim in these papers is to disseminate issues and early findings from the project, seek feedback and input from Consortium members into the project and ensure that the full breadth of issues you are facing in the delivery of affordable homes will be tackled through the project.
The IGP project is due to complete in March 2009 with the publication of our Land Assembly Manual. If you have any comments on this paper, or would like to have further involvement in the project please email: Charlotte Howse, Director of Policy and Practice.
July 2007
Sub National Economic Review - NHC Briefing
This report is the briefing to members on the Sub National Economic Review launched by Government earlier this month (see below). If you have any queries, please email Charlotte Howse or call her on 0191 5661034.
Sub National Economic Review - Implications for Housing
The long awaited Sub National Economic Review was launched yesterday setting out reforms that Government feel will enable places, sub regions and regions to provide economic environments that are able to adapt and take advantage of the broad global, economic and technological challenges and changes we face. The report has many implications for Consortium members and housing in the North and a full analysis will be provided on the Consortium website this afternoon.
The headlines from the announcement include:
Regional Infrastructure Changes
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Creation of single regional strategies (integrating the current suite - including the regional housing strategy) - to be led by the RDA
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Regional Development Agencies becoming the Regional Planning Bodies
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Regional Assemblies ceasing to exist in their current form
Local Authorities Empowered
- Local Authorities becoming more empowered to spread economic well being and reform of fiscal measures and LA performance management framework to facilitate this activity
- Local Authorities to undertake economic assessments of the challenges present in their localities.
Sub Regional Working
- Enhanced opportunities for more formal sub regional working arrangements (including on a permanent basis if appropriate)
Funding
- Neighbourhood Renewal funding targeted at most deprived areas and greater incentives for improved performance
- An enhanced, second round of Regional Funding Allocations (expanded to include wider set of funding streams)
New homes agency
- New Homes Agency to inform, contribute and complement single regional strategy.
- The lead departments for the Single Strategy will be Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Communities and Local Government and a key relationship with the newly appointed Minister for the Regions.
Future NHC input;
As you can see from this snapshot of headlines, there are many issues that are important for Consortium members to consider. We will be providing more detailed analysis on our website and will also be considering the forthcoming Housing Green Paper in light of the announcements yesterday.
If you have any comments please contact Charlotte.Harrison@northern-consortium.org.uk or on 0191 566 1034
Housing in 2020
The face of housing is set to change over the next decade. Measures are being brought in now, both locally and nationally, that will have a significant role to play in the shaping of our homes, neighbourhoods and day-to-day lives in the future. Using case study scenarios, this latest publication from Northern Housing Consortium will consider what housing in the North of England will look like in 2020, taking into account recent and planned policy developments and the impact they could have on a range of different household types. The case studies consider issues being raised now by new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and in various government reports, such as; the delivery of affordable housing, housing and support needs for vulnerable groups including homeless and older people, as well as new models of service delivery such as shared equity and community land trusts. With comments by James Woudhuysen, Professor of Forecasting and Innovation at De Montford University, the publication challenges us to take a very critical and active attitude towards policy developments. Members can order a hard copy by emailing enquiries@northern-consortium.org.uk.
Accommodating a Greener Future
This report features case studies on what social housing providers are doing to combat climate change and improve the energy efficiency of their new and existing housing stock as well as within their own organisations and with tenants. This publication is intended to give housing providers ideas and inspiration for what they can do to protect the environment and move towards more carbon neutral homes and communities. To request a hard copy of this publication please email enquiries@northern-consortium.org.uk
June 2007
Domestic Microgeneration
This paper provides an introduction to domestic microgeneration and considers the role it can play in helping to tackle climate change and ensure a stable and affordable energy supply. The paper also sets out the main messages in the Government's "Changes to Permitted Development" Consultation Paper 1 - Permitted Development Rights for Householder Microgeneration.
May 2007
Strategic Housing Market Assessment - guidance
This paper provides an introduction to the latest guidance from CLG on SHMA's
October 2006
Community Land Trusts - an option for affordable housing?
This paper is to provide an introduction to the Community Land Trust model and the role it can play in meeting the need for affordable accomodation in the North. This paper is the first of a series of documents whcih will look at current and future mechanisms of providing affordable housing and creating sustainable communities.
Free Commune Experiments
This short paper explains how in the FCE's in Scandanavia, policy makers were seeking ways of devolving greater responsibility for policy making and service provision to the local level with the aim of securing more responsive and cost effective local services. The FCE's were successful in creating a policy environment in which local authorities were able to experiment with new approaches resulting in innovation and efficiency. The paper considers the link with UK policy on LAA's and seeks views on the conditions placed upon organisations before freedoms and flexibilities can be granted.
January 2006
Briefing Papers - Local Area Agreements and their role in Housing and Supporting People
These papers provide and introduction to Local Area Agreements and consider the role that housing and Supporting People have to play in this initiative.