Northern Housing Consortium launches inquiry on regeneration

The NHC has launched a call for evidence to gather insight into the need for housing-led regeneration in the North to support this inquiry. This closes on 27 February.

Speaking at the conference, Ms Harrison said: “We’re showing our ambition to deliver, but as we know, [delivering] for Northern communities means that regeneration has to sit alongside housing supply and support to improve existing homes.”

She added: “We’ll be working across the North and in Westminster to understand how government’s policy programme could evolve with sector focus on regeneration, and we’ll be providing a focal point for the North to coalesce around, drawing on the experiences and the expertise found in the housing sector, in regional government and in Northern communities themselves.”

Renew is supported by a Westminster group in parliament. This will provide a regular forum so that parliamentarians can hear evidence and community testimonials first-hand, and offer their own insight and guidance and build advocacy for Renew and its aims.

There is also a project advisory group made up of housing association chief executives, local and regional government regeneration specialists, policy experts and academics, who will help shape the inquiry and be ambassadors.

Call for evidence

The NHC has launched a call for evidence to support the inquiry. The group, whose members own or manage nine out of 10 social rent homes in the North, said the findings will be used to understand the scale of the need for housing-led regeneration and what can be done to address this need.

The group said the evidence gathered will help create practical recommendations that can shape government policy and support social housing providers, mayors and local government to deliver more growth and stronger communities.

Speaking at the Northern Housing Summit, Ms Harrison said: “Today, we’re launching [our] Renew call for evidence, which will give us the evidence we need to have practical conversations with government on this vital issue [regeneration].

“I want us to be bold and to think big, but we’re only going to be able to do that with your help. So, I would urge you all to visit our website and help us by submitting your views to the Renew call for evidence.

“We want you to tell us what works, what doesn’t work, and what needs to change to make sure that housing-led regeneration delivers lasting benefits for residents and communities. This will help us to provide government with the detailed evidence it needs and enable us to continue to press the case for change.”

The inquiry comes after Homes England launched its ‘outline guidance’ for the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme for the allocation of its £27.2bn in grant funding outside of London. Within this, mayors outside the capital will be able to “prioritise” around £7bn of spending under the programme.

Support for the inquiry

In a press announcement on the launch, Paul Fiddaman, deputy chair of Homes for the North, said the group’s research shows that regeneration can make a “significant contribution” to housing supply in the region.

“Regeneration is about more than just supply, however; it can help to build stronger communities and act as a catalyst for growth,” he said.

“Therefore, we were pleased to see the positive changes around additionality in the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which will help to create the conditions for Renew to have the most impact.

“Homes for the North is delighted to support this inquiry and contribute to this important conversation around how we can unlock the transformative potential of regeneration in the North.”

Lord Best said: “I am really pleased to be chairing Renew not only because the issue of regeneration in our Northern regions is of huge significance, but also because I know the Northern Housing Consortium will do a really good job in assembling the evidence and making the case for change.

“The powerful voice of the NHC for the Northern regions is badly needed to make the case for housing-led regeneration, particularly for the housing stock that is now reaching the end of its useful life. I believe Renew could make a real difference.”

Phil Mayall, managing director at Muse, said the firm is “delighted” to be part of this.

“As part of this process we will draw on our decades of placemaking experience and offer meaningful insight into how we have worked in partnership to deliver transformative places across the Northern region,” he said.