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Tyne for a change: how our devolution deal will boost housebuilding

Pat Ritchie explains how the North of Tyne devolution deal will help to increase the delivery of much-needed homes in the region

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Pat Ritchie explains how the North of Tyne devolution deal will help the supply of homes @n_landcouncil @newcastlecc @ntcouncilteam #ukhousing #northoftyne

North of Tyne authorities chief Pat Ritchie looks at how devolution is the key to more housing in North Tyne #ukhousing

Everyone agrees that Britain’s housing market is broken. But in what way varies across the country and even locally.

In the North East the supply of new homes to support economic growth is critical. We have areas where second homes and holiday homes lock locals out of the market. We also have areas of lower demand and less desirable stock.

To tackle these problems and ensure we have more and better homes for the future requires a range of partners to come together and be prepared to do things differently.

“What makes this deal different is that people, rather than infrastructure, are at its heart.”

In the North East we are doing just that. Three councils have come together to make a devolution deal with government worth £600m.

The North of Tyne devolution deal is a 30-year commitment to put aside political differences and work together for the good of the region.

But what makes this deal different is that people, rather than infrastructure, are at its heart. It’s about creating jobs, improving employment levels and helping young people start out in life. Having the right homes in the right places that are affordable is critical to making that a success.


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Earlier in July, Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry visited Newcastle to see for himself the work of the North of Tyne housing and land board.

It’s a new body comprising a wide range of organisations involved in housing, from house builders to landlords, investors to charities, councillors to housing associations, and experts in ageing and modern construction methods.

Its diverse membership is a deliberate attempt to shake up the old ways and encourage thinking outside of the box.

“We must try new things on top of what we are already doing.”

We were delighted that Sir Edward Lister, chair of Homes England, agreed to chair the board over the coming months.

Essentially, its purpose is to support economic growth by building more homes. If we are serious about making a meaningful contribution to the government’s target of 300,000 homes a year we must try new things on top of what we are already doing.

Over the past 10 years, the North of Tyne councils have built on average 1,800 homes per year – far short of demand. In the past few years it has risen to 2,700 a year. This rate of provision is not enough considering population growth rates and the fact we are all living longer.

Instead the board plans to accelerate significantly the number of homes coming on stream to 3,000 per year. This will allow our councils to deliver the figures agreed in their local development frameworks.

If successful, how we achieve this could become a model of best practice for the rest of the country.

We must take a strategic approach to delivering more and better homes across the whole of the North of Tyne.

There will be an improved range of tenures and type including affordable and specialist housing.

We will manage an integrated long-term investment programme to increase supply and pace of delivery, and co-ordinate partnerships to support the delivery of key housing sites.

We will identify opportunities for land assembly among public and private landowners and maximise the use of surplus public sector land for housing.

We will explore new modular building initiatives and opportunities to improve the quality and management of private sector properties, and we will investigate how capital investments can be used to reduce future revenue burdens. But it’s not all about the numbers.

“We must take a strategic approach to delivering more and better homes across the whole of the North of Tyne.”

In some areas we have empty homes, homes in poor condition and rising homelessness. There is the planning system, affordability – especially in some of our more rural areas – and the issues of ageing, social care and homes that are fit for life.

In the next few weeks parliamentary orders will be laid that will lead to the implementation of the North of Tyne devolution deal. It will give us the power to shape our own destiny.

In housing, the work has started. There is no time to waste.

Pat Ritchie, chief executive, Newcastle City Council

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