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Matthew Gardiner is a former senior housing sector professional
Time for action: my review of the National Housing Summit so far
Theresa May’s speech opens new possibilities but won’t make delivery easier alone, writes Matthew Gardiner
The housing sector met in London for the first National Housing Summit this week.
The National Housing Federation’s (NHF) contentious decision to relocate the conference from its Birmingham home to London was immediately vindicated.
The prime minister, no less, took the opening slot – and pretty much smashed it out of the park.
Generous with her words and warm in her demeanour, she clearly placed high value on housing associations with a sharp admonishment to here predecessors who had not. It was as Nick Walkley, chief executive of Homes England, later said “a moment”.
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The emotional power of a moment changes the terms of the debate. Moments open new possibilities.
But of themselves they do not make delivery any easier. We are in dangerous times and ‘deliver or disappoint’ could well be the masthead on every board paper across the sector to serve as a reminder of our imperative – and how hard it is going to be.
“The emotional power of a moment changes the terms of the debate.”
Because delivery is expected across a wider landscape than we anticipated.
Yes, build homes; but they have to be beautiful homes, the ones that will stand the tests of time and become the conservation areas of the next century.
Yes, build homes; but that has to be at scale within vibrant, mixed communities that connect people to the education, skills, employment and health resources that are necessary for good and purposeful lives.
Yes, build more homes; but they have to be homes where people can age gracefully and die well connected to the decentralised health care systems that are just round the corner.
And then Matthew Taylor, chief executive of Royal Society of Arts, implored us to campaign, not just for ourselves but also to ignite a sense of civic activism, to promote a sense of ‘can do, not done to’ among tenants, customers and citizens.
Phillip Blond, director of Respublica, wanted even more: for housing associations to speak across class divides to the problems of insecurity felt by an ever increasing proportion of the UK’s population.
He also wryly observed that social purpose organisations have never really achieved scale, but that housing associations – described by Ms May as “public interest, not-for-profit, private organisations” – might be the first to create a tipping point and allow a whole creative, purposeful sector of social enterprises at scale to flourish.
“Build more homes; but they have to be homes where people can age gracefully and die well connected to decentralised health care.”
Kate Henderson comes into her role as chief executive at the NHF with an impressive track record, and her fierce determination to succeed burned brightly in her first public address to the sector. She has a lot to do.
Now is the time for us all to come together and help her, and the country, to get it done.
Matthew Gardiner, chief executive, Trafford Housing Trust
More on Theresa May's NHF speech
All our coverage of Theresa May's historic speech on 19 September, 2018, in one place:
Orr: 'penny has dropped' for government on housing The outgoing chief executive of the National Housing Federation gives his take on May's speech
LGA warns May’s focus on associations ’misses the point’ about council-led building Reaction to the announcements from Lord Gary Porter, chair of the Local Government Association
Sector leaders hail ‘huge significance’ of May’s NHF speech Housing figures welcome the Prime Minister’s speech to the National Housing Federation’s annual conference in London
May’s speech shows a significant change in attitude towards the sector When was the last time a Conservative prime minister made a speech more favourable to social housing?, asks Jules Birch
In full: Theresa May’s speech to the National Housing Summit The full text of the Prime Minister’s historic speech
Theresa May throws support behind housing associations in landmark speech Read more about Theresa May’s speech which signalled a change in tone from the government towards housing associations
May’s new £2bn funding will not be available until 2022 Homes England clarifies the timescale for allocation of the new money promised by the Prime Minister
Morning Briefing: Labour hits back at May’s £2bn housing pledgeShadow housing secretary John Healey says May’s pledges are not enough
May to announce £2bn for strategic partnerships with associations at NHF conference The details released overnight ahead of the speech
