Regeneration inquiry moves forward with Lord Best OBE DL as Chair 

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The NHC’s inquiry on housing-led regeneration, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, is gathering pace with the Call for Evidence set to launch at the Northern Housing Summit, and meetings with advisory groups happening now.  

Lord Best OBE DL will chair the inquiry and its advisory group, who met for the first time this week. The advisory group is made up of a mix of housing association chief executives, local and regional government regeneration specialists, policy experts and academics.   

At the first meeting group members fed back on the overarching aims of the inquiry and discussed the Call for Evidence. Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University Ed Ferrari updated the group about the research he is doing which will set the scene for the project and analyse the evolving context of regeneration in the North. The work will set out the longstanding challenges and concerns the inquiry will grapple with, as well as the emerging importance of devolution, sustainability, and community cohesion and belonging.  

This followed an NHC member roundtable with senior officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The meeting was used to discuss and improve knowledge of the northern-specific challenge of regeneration as well as to explore how housing led regeneration can contribute to the national drive for growth and stronger communities.   Insight from the meeting will be used as part of the inquiry’s commitment to identifying how the Northern social housing sector can play a role in the Government’s policy programme in this Parliament. 

Next week, the inquiry Westminster Group will meet for the first time. Over the course of the inquiry they will have quarterly meetings to hear evidence and testimonials first hand, as well as offer insight and guidance.  

The Northen Housing Summit on 12th November will provide the stage for the launch of the inquiry Call for Evidence, which help capture the views of the social housing sector in the North. The Summit will also include a session “Beyond 1.5m homes: Once in a (re)generation?” where MHCLG’s Director for New Towns, Infrastructure and Housing Delivery Cathy Francis, Sheffield City Council Director of Housing Services James Clark, NHC Executive Director of Policy and External Relations Patrick Murray, Onward Chief Executive and Chair of Homes for North Bronwen Rapley, and Interim Chair of Homes England Pat Richie will discuss the balance between building new homes, and regenerating the North’s communities, and how the two agendas can reinforce each other. 

You can find more and book your place the Northern Housing Summit here.  

If you would like to find out more about the regeneration inquiry please contact Senior Engagement Manager (Devolution and Place Lead) Liam Gregson.