8th May 2012
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has revealed its sites set to be released for development to help meet local needs for housing, jobs and growth.
The refreshed Land Development and Disposal Plan, which builds on the first plan released in June 2011, sets out how the Agency will use its assets to accelerate economic activity in support of the Government's ambition to build more than 100,000 homes on public land by 2015. The HCA expects to contribute up to 16,226 new homes towards the Government's ambition through its land assets.
The plan contains an overview of the HCA-owned sites, listed by Operating Area, that will be brought forward for development in 2012/13, as well as an indicative pipeline of sites for the remainder of the Spending Review Period.
The HCA's principles for disposing of its land are:
The HCA will work with local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and the emerging Core Cities to help understand how development on our land can best contribute to local priorities.
While seeking market value for its land, the HCA will also aim to carry out disposals on terms that promote development. For example using deferred payments, Build Now, Pay Later, helps developers with up front cash flow, making marginal sites financially viable. The sites will be brought to the market either through the HCA's Delivery Partner Panel, through an OJEU notice, or local disposal.
8th May 2012
The Scottish Government confirmed its priority for housing and announced funding Aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing, creating jobs and boosting the economy.
All of Scotland's 32 councils receive a share of almost £582 million in subsidy over the next three-years. This is part of the Government investment of at least £710 million in the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
The funding will be used to encourage councils and housing associations to build greener homes by providing a larger Government subsidy for houses built to meet higher standards in areas like energy efficiency.
Rural areas, which experience higher developments costs, will also be helped with higher Government contributions to ensure that housing developments can be successfully delivered in remote parts of the country.
Housing Minister Keith Brown said:
"Housing is and will remain a priority for this Government and we will continue to invest in new affordable homes.
"We have listened to councils and housing associations and put in place a system of funding for housing based on forward planning instead of making councils and housing associations bid for funds. This will provide greater certainty and allow councils to make plans for the future.
"We are also encouraging the construction of greener, more energy efficient homes. We also recognise the particular challenge for housing in remote and rural areas and will provide greater Government subsidy for housing developments in those areas.
"This funding keeps us on track to deliver more than 6000 affordable homes per year, of which 4000 will be social homes."
14th May 2012
A target of building 12,500 new homes by 2016 has been set by the Welsh Government. A ministerial statement from Housing Minister Huw Lewis announced that 7,500 of the homes would be affordable - built with money from the Welsh Government and other housing providers using their own finance.
The announcement will shortly be followed by a White Paper, setting out the Welsh Government's proposals for related new legislation and non-legislative action.
The Minister also said the Welsh Government wanted 5,000 empty homes to be brought back into use through its £5 million Houses into Homes scheme, which started last month and makes loans available to owners to bring empty properties back into use.
To support its new social homes programme, the Welsh Government intends to:
17th May 2012
In their second Housing Report, the National Housing Federation, Shelter and The Chartered Institute of Housing warn the Government is failing to deliver on five out of ten key housing indicators:
The warning comes as new figures show housebuilding starts are down 11% on the last quarter.
The Housing Report warns ministers of the urgency of meeting the nation's housing needs as pressures, such as falling incomes and a growing and ageing population, intensify over the coming years - putting an increasing strain on Britain's broken housing market.
The report also urges the Government to make good on its promises, in particular to 'get Britain building', to provide much-needed homes for thousands of families, as well as delivering new jobs and economic growth.
To read the report click here.
Hackney PFI Contract to Produce 300 Plus New Homes
8th May 2012
Lambeth Council has signed a contract with a consortium led by Regenter, which also features Higgins Construction, Rydon Maintenance, and E.ON, for a regeneration and development programme on its Myatts Field North Estate.
With the support of a £150 million government grant, the consortium will provide 305 new council homes to replace houses already demolished, 146 homes for shared ownership and 357 homes for sale on the private market.
The new homes have been designed to reduce carbon emissions by up to 60%.
The scheme also includes the refurbishment of 172 existing homes and the development of landscaped parkland and sports facilities.
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Southwark to Build 1,000 New Homes
16th May 2012
Southwark Council have set itself a target to build 1,000 new council homes before 2020, a significant step to address its priority for delivering genuinely affordable housing in the borough.
The plans aim to make use of sites around Southwark, and will utilise spaces which are underused, vacant or problematic for large-scale development, such as garage spaces.
The new housing would be council-funded and managed, allowing greater control over rent levels and management.
It is proposed that this could also potentially allow for local lettings - where new housing is let to local residents in priority need, enabling the Council to re-let existing homes and create better mobility on estates, and provide people with appropriate housing to suit their needs.
Providing specialist housing such as accessible, or wheelchair adapted homes, can also be addressed with this council managed model, which will respond to the need for properties suitable for disabled people as well as larger properties for families.
