1. “FIXING OUR BROKEN HOUSING MARKET“
The Housing Forum’s Response
Shelagh Grant,
Chief Executive, The Housing Forum
21 April 2017

2. Four opportunities 22 February CEO Forum
7 April Consultation event (40 organisations represented)
20 April The Housing Forum Board debate
21 April Development Partnership Forum
Consultation closes 2 May 2017

3. The White Paper
not enough local authorities planning for the right homes in the right places (over 40%)
house building is too slow (gaps between permissions and construction
the construction industry is too reliant on a small number of players (the 10 largest housebuilders build 60% of new private homes)
At a high level…
The White Paper strongly encourages mixed tenure solutions through a very broad range of measures
The planning reforms should assist more consistent plan making focused on delivering improved supply
the disconnect between design and construction is
limiting the growth of off-site solutions

4. Scale and Delivery
Extend the life cycle for house building to years – as an economic cycle
Good ideas but lacks the tools for delivery
Government support is not enough: economic access to land suitable for each tenure is required

5. Planning
The 20% increase in planning fees will not solve shortages and issues over expertise or deal with additional aspirations*
Pre-commencement conditions are critical and need to be dealt with within timescale
Shortened planning time scales will challenge meeting complex requirements and impact on SMEs

6. Local need
Delivery needs to be tied into local need in product diversity, timescale and key products
The standardised approach to assessing housing requirements is supported
Must reflect the local and regional market.

7. Definition of Affordability
Off Site Manufacture
Until there is a larger pipe-line that will sustain homes over a long period, off site, as of yet is not cheaper but is a great potential solution to skills shortages, speed of construction and increased delivery.
The definition of affordability needs clarification in terms of bidding and S106 negotiations and links to average rents.
Definition of Affordability

8. Who is affordable home ownership for?
What is the appetite for it from consumers and developers?
Is rent to buy well understood and what rent levels and structures work best
The recurring and shifting debate about the relative merits and drawbacks of shared ownership vs shared equity
The considerations around developing discounted market sales and starter homes