All Party Parliamentary Group for Housing in the North meets for end-of-year session

In December, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Housing in the North, for which the NHC acts as Secretariat, met for an online end-of-year wrap-up session. The meeting was organised to bring key stakeholders together to discuss the past and future of Levelling Up and advocate for a continued approach to tackling inequalities that appreciates the relationship between physical, social, and economic regeneration. 

Across 2022, the APPG has dedicated meetings to Levelling Up, with specific focus on the importance of good quality homes and neighbourhoods in the North within the agenda’s core aims of raising living standards, improving public services, restoring local pride, and empowering leaders and communities.  

In May 2022 The APPG met to discuss the White Paper’s ambition to raise living standards, with a focus on the interrelated challenges of the cost of living crisis and the energy efficiency of northern homes. In July, APPG members explored the relationship between housing quality and belonging, with a briefing on the Government’s A Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper, underpinning the Mission to half non-decent rented housing by 2030. 

The meeting was opened by APPG Chair, Ian Mearns MP, and included an opening speech from NHC Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison, who set the scene for the session and detailed the key priorities for Levelling Up housing and communities in the North; committing and acting on the Levelling Up Mission to half non-decent rented homes, securing Parliamentary time to bring forward the Renters’ Reform Bill, and protecting the provision of affordable housing within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. 

This APPG meeting featured a speaking slot from Adam Hawksbee, Interim Director of think tank Onward, who provided some detail on the Levelling Up White Paper and the progress made since it was published. Adam also explained what is needed for Levelling Up to succeed in practical terms. The session also included Director of Generation Rent, Alicia Kennedy (Baroness Kennedy of Cradley), who discussed the Fairer Private Rented Sector White Paper and wider reform of the private rented sector. Alicia highlighted the increase of tenants in the private rented sector in the North and what the sector needs from the Renters’ Reform Bill. Finally, RTPI Head of Policy Practice and Research, Richard Blyth, joined the session to provide an update on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill currently makings its way through parliament, with a focus on the planning aspects of the Bill.  

The APPG for Housing in the North is regularly attended by a healthy cohort of Members of Parliament representing northern constituencies, and members of the House of Lords with geographic connections to the North and/or an interest in housing. In addition to Parliamentarians, APPG meetings are attended by other invited stakeholders and Senior Leaders from the Northern Housing Consortium’s membership of Local Authorities, Housing Associations, and ALMOs.  

 

A post event-meeting pack for this session, as well further information on the APPG and its meetings can be found here: 

https://www.northern-consortium.org.uk/services/policy/parliament/appg-for-housing-in-the-north/ 

 If you wish to discuss the APPG further, or wish to attend future meetings, please contact Liam Gregson (Member Engagement Manager) Liam.Gregson@northern-consortium.org.uk