You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Sir Oliver’s findings are encouraging - now we need strong commitment from ministers
Ministers need to think creatively and boldly to tackle the issues raised by Sir Oliver Letwin, writes Emma Maier
The Letwin Review into the rate at which house builders construct new homes caused many sector eyes to roll when it was announced in the last Autumn Budget.
Arguably Sir Oliver might have been able to answer the essay question right away, given 20 minutes with a handful of housing professionals.
The review has taken longer than expected and in the meantime, the government has swung between blaming council planners for slowing down the process and calling on house builders to “do their duty”.
READ MORE
This simplistic approach might seem tough in newspaper headlines, but it is not conducive to working with housing professionals or house builders to resolve the issues. It reflects in part the lack of agreement in government on the solutions.
It is encouraging that Sir Oliver’s interim findings do identify one of the key issues: the ‘absorption rate’ – the speed at which homes can be sold into local markets without reducing their value.
He recognises that greater variety of tenures is crucial, as well as more competition and smaller sites.
Sir Oliver is yet to set out his proposed solutions, but with the Affordable Housing Finance programme drawing to a close, the Treasury should take note.
The chancellor used his first Spring Statement to outline £8bn of loan guarantees “to support private housebuilding and the purpose-built private rented sector” – with no mention of social or affordable homes.
As Sir Oliver’s interim findings set out, this would be an error not only for those in housing need but also for the government’s housebuilding aspirations.
Indications from Nick Walkley, chief executive of Homes England, that the funds may be available to support social housing are welcome.
But a clearer commitment is needed from the government.
Ministers also need to set their sights higher.
Alongside absorption, land values and availability remain a major barrier. Overcoming this will require some creative and bold thinking.
Prime minister Theresa May has called on Homes England to be “muscular” and “proactive”. It is time for the government to take the same advice to heart.
Element of risk
Dame Judith Hackitt has acknowledged that using tests to clear combustible insulation for use on high-rise buildings carries a risk.
By contrast, allowing only “limited combustibility” products is “undoubtedly the low-risk option”, according to Dame Judith, who is leading the review of building regulations in the aftermath of Grenfell.
This intervention comes as debate intensifies about the use of large-scale tests and ‘desktop studies’, where results are extrapolated to clear untested cladding.
The use of tests and desktop studies emerged in the past 20 years.
She must question the status quo, not accept it untested.
The skeleton of Grenfell Tower stands as a reminder of the consequences.
As Dame Judith considers the risk, she will no doubt also reflect on the likelihood of the worst happening again.
As she does, she might bear in mind the lack of clarity that remains over how many social and private homes in towers blocks are encased in potentially dangerous systems.
The Hackitt Review
Photo: Tom Pilston/Eyevine
Dame Judith Hackitt’s (above) interim report on building safety, released in December 2017, was scathing about some of the industry’s practices.
Although the full report is not due to be published until later this year, the former Health and Safety Executive chair has already highlighted a culture of cost-cutting and is likely to call for a radical overhaul of current regulations in an interim report.
Dame Hackitt’s key recommendations and conclusions include:
- A call for the simplification of building regulations and guidelines to prevent misapplication
- Clarification of roles and responsibilities in the construction industry
- Giving those who commission, design and construct buildings primary responsibility that they are fit for purpose
- Greater scope for residents to raise concerns
- A formal accreditation system for anyone involved in fire prevention on high-rise blocks
- A stronger enforcement regime backed up with powerful sanctions
FULL LIST: HACKITT REVIEW WORKING GROUPS
Working group 1: Golden Thread
Chairs:
Ben Stayte and Hannah Brook
Members:
National Fire Chiefs Council
Local Authority Building Control
Construction Products Association
UIL
National Housing Federation
Health and Safety Executive
Institution of Fire Engineers
Working group 2: Regulations and Guidance
Chair:
Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association
Members:
National Fire Chiefs Council
Local Authority Building Council
Fire Industry Association
Building Research Establishment
Health and Safety Executive
Build UK
Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
Other groups
Working Group 1: Construction and Design
Chair:
Rachel White, Institute for Civil Engineers
Members:
Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors
Build UK
Local Authority Building Control
National Fire Chiefs Council
Institution of Fire Engineers
Royal Institute of British Architects
Health and Safety Executive
Construction Leadership Council
National House Building Council
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Working Group 2: Procurement
Chair:
Paul Nash, Chartered Institute of Building
Members:
Telford Homes
Kier Living
Construction Industry Council
Local Government Association
Home Builders Federation
Working Group 2: Occupation and Maintenance
Chair:
Nick Coombe, National Fire Chiefs Council
Members:
Association of Residential Managing Agents
National Fire Chiefs Council
British Institute of Facilities Management
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Health and Safety Executive
Leasehold Advisory Service
Local Government Association
Association of British Insurers
Working Group 4: Competence
Chair:
Graham Watts, Construction Industry Council
Members:
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Construction Industry Council Approved Inspector Register
Engineering Council
Fire Industry Association
Local Authority Building Control
Royal Institute of British Architects
National Fire Chiefs Council
Fire Protection Association
University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering
Institution of Fire Engineers
Working Group 5: Residents’ Voice
Chair:
Darren Hartley, TAROE
Members
Association of Residential Managing Agents
British Property Federation
Camden Leaseholders’ Forum, nominated by LEASE
Confederation of Co-operative Housing
Fire Industry Association
National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations
Optivo Homes, nominated by National Housing Federation
Shelter
Tenant Participation Advisory Service
Working Group 6: Quality Assurance and Products
Chair:
Dr Debbie Smith, Building Research Establishment
Members
Construction Products Association
British Standards Institution
United Kingdom Accreditation Service
British Board of Agrement
Fire Protection Association
Fire Industry Association
Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, University of Central Lancashire
National Fire Chiefs Council
Institution of Fire Engineers
