Make a wish

We have all been eagerly searching the coalition government’s agreement for clues to the future for housing and regeneration projects. Given there is very little money, the real clues may well be in the section headed ‘social action’.

Highlighted by prime minister David Cameron in a pre-publication speech, this section talks about support for the creation of mutuals, co-operatives charities and social enterprise to deliver public services.

For years, the co-operative and community-based parts of the sector have been treated as worthy but peripheral. They were seen as a bit small scale, hard to slot into target driven delivery models and led by people admired for their commitment but seen as a bit challenging. Now government says this is the kind of project it wants to support. So we will all need to understand what makes community-led projects work (or not) - and how larger providers can tap into their energy and commitment and collaborate in project delivery.

The housing world already has well developed models for community-based delivery; co-operatives, tenant management organisations, community land trusts, gateways and others created from local need and giving real local control. Housing can and should lead the way for other public services in showing how these models can deliver excellence. In return, government must deliver on its promise of support. Could planning reform give community owned/run organisations an easier route to planning for affordable homes? Will it lower VAT where the community organisations buy support services externally?

Time for some wish lists of what would really help to support the ‘social action’ agenda in the housing and regeneration worlds.

Catherine Hand is a partner at Trowers & Hamlins LLP