In anticipation of major reforms to housing and planning, many of which will be introduced by the localism bill, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is preparing to support the sector further.
CIH has announced a new and unique service, combining resources and expertise from across CIH to help housing professionals and local councillors in their efforts to deliver new homes, housing services and better joined up support for vulnerable communities, in the face of significant change and reduced public funding.
The new CIH Strategy and Research Team (START) will help councillors and officers to understand their housing markets better and plan local housing provision to meet the needs of their communities and residents.
START will help organisations make use of the new affordable rent model, national planning framework and flexible tenancies, offering written materials, ideas and information exchange, training, hands-on support and also engaging with national policy agendas.
A recent CIH report - The local authority role in housing markets - highlighted the crucial role of local authorities due to the introduction of affordable rents and fixed term tenancies; the need for a whole-market approach; and the need for this approach to be both holistic and engaging.
It also stresses that local authorities and their partners must start work on tenure strategies regardless of any legal requirement to have one, to create a framework for organisations' investment and housing management decisions.
CIH Deputy Chief Executive Richard Capie, said:
"Reforms to housing, planning and welfare being introduced by the current government require fundamental changes to the way local authorities and housing providers work. Housing professionals and elected representatives need to be confident in the decisions they are making, and they need to ensure that local strategy and action is coordinated to deliver the best possible outcomes."