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We must be united to get our message heard in Westminster
With a general election on the horizon and the possibility of a new crop of MPs, housing must ensure it is singing from the same hymn sheet on key messages, says Nick Atkin
There is the saying that a week is a long time in politics.
What has unfolded in parliament over the past few weeks has been breathtaking and at times bizarre. So much so, that phrase probably needs to be amended to say “a few hours”, not a week.
We are undoubtedly witnessing a period in history that future generations will study and people much cleverer than me will attempt to make some sense of.
What is apparent is that we are more than likely heading towards another election. If the political commentators are to be believed, this could be as soon as November.
Any election is likely to be fought on a one-topic issue: the dreaded ‘B word’. This has every possibility of producing a very different electoral result to anything we have experienced before.
There is widespread talk of political alliances forming that would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago.
This split down Leave and Remain lines, coupled with tactical deployment of candidates, could result in traditional voting allegiances being skewed.
It may also provide an opportunity for some of the smaller parties to gain ground in between any splits in the vote that may occur.
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There is a real possibility that in addition to a number of MPs who are standing down at the next election, we could see a large-scale change in MPs voted into parliament, possibly on a similar level to that seen during the 1997 general election.
This would mean we have a large number of new MPs with little or no experience in their new roles.
So what does all this mean for housing?
We have a collective responsibility to ensure we help this new cohort of key decision-makers understand the significant contribution that housing makes to the national economy.
Housing has experienced unparalleled levels of support over the past few years. The recent Spending Round may have been an indicator that this was starting to wane.
We need to have a consistent voice and one clear, concise message on the value we bring to any government and the economy.
Our message needs to be the same regardless of what part of the country we work in or whichever organisation is speaking on our collective behalf.
“We have a collective responsibility to ensure we help this new cohort of key decision-makers understand the significant contribution that housing makes to the national economy”
Any messaging also needs to remember its audience – potentially made up of a large number of people who will be new in their roles.
At the same time as hearing our message, they’ll be grappling with the complexities of their new role and be inundated with messages seeking their support for investment across a range of sectors.
Our message needs to be heard. It can only do this by being short, sharp, clear and consistent.
As well as getting the message heard and understood, we need to offer solutions, especially at a time when it’s likely that any new government’s attention will be focused on Brexit.
One of the barriers to more housing being built is a lack of long-term certainty.
We’ve seen from the Homes England strategic partnerships the positive difference in mindset and approach that these longer-term settlements can bring.
A potential solution put forward by Shelter, the Confederation of British Industry and this piece in Inside Housing earlier this year is for investment in housing to be reclassified as infrastructure spending and overseen by the National Infrastructure Commission.
Funding would shift from three-yearly cycles linked to Comprehensive Spending Reviews to investment in housing being considered over a much longer time frame.
This would be in the same way as for road, rail and other infrastructure commitments and would enable Homes England to build on the success of its strategic partnerships.
Housing positively contributes to the placemaking focus for infrastructure investment.
The National Infrastructure Strategy, which is due to be published by the government this autumn, provides an opportunity for the inclusion of housing.
Currently infrastructure investment is capped at 1.2%. When considering the levels of investment needed in housing, this may need to be reviewed by the Treasury.
Regardless of the infrastructure debate, we need to ensure the new government isn’t just fixated on the numbers.
The narrative needs to shift to quality and affordability, the latter of which includes the wider cost to live in a home.
To achieve this the country needs a long-term, cross-party funding commitment to housing.
“One reason there has been a lack of sustained affordable new homes being built is the short-term approach and the shifting sands of housing policy”
The housing crisis is widely accepted. So if we are to tackle this, we need to accept that a long-term solution is needed.
One reason there has been a lack of new affordable homes being built is the short-term approach and the shifting sands of housing policy.
Housing associations and councils are long-term investors in areas. Our long-term funding arrangements mean we are able to build the homes private developers wouldn’t normally consider. We’re also able to build at all points in the economic cycle.
As well as focusing on adding new supply, we need to stop the haemorrhaging of existing homes through the Right to Buy.
The business case for scrapping this policy is well made and clear, as I outlined in an earlier IH50 post. To use a 40-year-old policy that sells five homes to build one new one, when there is a wide range of alternatives, just doesn’t make economic or moral sense.
The forthcoming election and a new government offer an opportunity for common sense to prevail.
It’s down to us to get the message heard and understood, with one coherent voice.
Nick Atkin, chief executive, Yorkshire Housing
