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Homes England has the potential to be a strong, proactive presence regardless of ministerial merry-go-rounds, writes Emma Maier
In a turbulent period for housing policy, there has been one clear and consistent message from the sector to politicians: “Stop the piecemeal initiatives; we need a long-term, holistic strategy for housing growth.”
The appointment last week of the fourth housing minister in three years is a frustration. But nevertheless a once-in-a-generation opportunity is emerging to develop that sorely needed long-term strategy.
Two days after the prime minister appointed Dominic Raab and boosted Sajid Javid’s brief to create the first cabinet post for housing in decades, Homes England finally launched.
After a lengthy gestation, the investment part of the Homes and Communities Agency has broken out into an independent organisation.
As an arm’s-length agency with capacity and a heavy-hitting leadership team who are unafraid to shake things up, Homes England has the potential to intervene and stimulate local markets. If successful, it will provide a strong, proactive presence, regardless of the ministerial merry-go-round.
Chief executive Nick Walkley, who has a track record for challenging the status quo, including introducing the budget-airline-inspired ‘EasyCouncil’ model while chief executive at Barnet Council, is moving Homes England away from grant distribution in favour of investment.
Mr Walkley’s vision involves banging heads together locally and providing financial and technical support to deliver development at pace. He is serious about putting place-making and local economic growth at the heart of the agency’s work, poaching cities expert Tom Walker from Whitehall to lead the agenda.
Crucially, Homes England also has the power to acquire land and responsibility for disposing of public land.
A first test of the agency’s ambition will be the timing and scale of its first compulsory purchase order (CPO) to acquire land, and the shape and scale of its early deals. We may not have to wait too long to get a sense of this- Homes England yesterday indicated that it might use a CPO to bring forward development on a scheme in Oxfordshire.
Landlords positioning themselves as an important part of the solution to the crisis will need to adapt quickly to this change, which will throw the spotlight on the scale of landlords’ development ambitions and their willingness to work in partnership.
The new agency offers an opportunity – government will be watching to see if the sector seizes it.
Safety comes first
More than six months on from the Grenfell Tower fire, government has not yet offered clear advice on the safety of insulation and cladding.
Official guidance states insulation should be of “limited combustibility” but cladding need only meet ‘Class 0’ or ‘European Class B’ standards, which are less rigorous. Testing commissioned by the government since Grenfell has seen Class 0 and Class B systems fail.
Yet government has not advised on what to do with such cladding and insulation assemblies, instead advising building owners to “seek professional advice”.
The full details of the causes of the spread of the Grenfell fire are yet to emerge. But it is clear that there was wholesale system failure. Government and the regulations to which professionals work are a part of that system.
This is a time for political leadership: ministers must put tenants’ safety above any concerns about liability and urgently offer prompt guidance.
Emma Maier, editor, Inside Housing
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.