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A roundup of Housing 2017

Housing 2017 was dominated by discussion of the Grenfell Tower fire. Inside Housing looks at how the debate unfolded and other key learning that emerged from the conference last week. Photography by Guzelian

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Pledges on homelessness

Delivering the conference opening address, Terrie Alafat (above), chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing, called the UK’s homelessness problem “a national disgrace”.

Inside Housing has spent this year running its Cathy at 50 campaign to end rough sleeping within the next few years. The campaign calls on the government to fund Housing First programmes, and local government minister Marcus Jones expressed that he was keen to back
Housing First in his speech at Housing 2017.

There was widespread talk of getting people off the streets and into decent, stable homes throughout the conference, after the Homelessness Reduction Act came into law in April. There was frequent praise for the act – including from Ms Alafat, who called it a “brilliant piece of work” – but concerns were raised over whether the right levels of funding would be available to support councils trying to implement the legislation.

Mike Wright, strategic lead on homelessness at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said it is “critical” that areas outside London are given their fair share of the £61m earmarked by government to assist with the higher numbers of homelessness reviews that local authorities will be required to process.

Is offsite the future?

Elsewhere, the conference was buzzing with excitement over the future of offsite construction. The building method has flourished in the Netherlands for decades, which could be why Hans Al of Dutch housing association Stek seemed bewildered by the scepticism in the room at one session concerned with building the houses of tomorrow.

But the few outspoken doubters were outweighed by housing associations eager to try their hand at modern methods of construction.

All three development directors on one panel said they were looking at offsite, and Stephen Haigh, chief executive of modular housing provider Live Verde, was bullish on the issue. In a rhetorical flourish, he told the room he wasn’t going to use the phrase “get our heads out of our arses” but managed to convey that exact sentiment.

If the delegates who mobbed Mr Haigh at the end are anything to go by, the itch for innovation is starting to be felt.


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David Montague, chief executive of L&Q
David Montague, chief executive of L&Q
Sam Webb, architect and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group
Sam Webb, architect and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group

Grenfell Tower disaster

This year there was a cloud hanging over proceedings following the Grenfell Tower fire, which has so far claimed 80 lives. There was much talk among delegates about the lessons to be learned, but in these very early days after the tragic events there is not yet certainty over what they are.

Andrew Adonis, chair of the government’s National Infrastructure Commission, warned landlords that action on fire safety should not be delayed until after the public inquiry. This was in contrast to a number of other speakers who had stressed the need to wait and see what comes out of the inquiry.

With the government so focused on the cladding of tower blocks, it became a buzzword across the conference halls.

As the number of tower blocks failing cladding tests continues to rise, there is growing scepticism over the effectiveness of the testing. Sam Webb, architect and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group, said the tests should be looking “at the entire assembly” of the cladding – including insulation and other materials. David Montague, chief executive of L&Q, said the obsession with cladding was understandable”, but insisted there is “more to this than the testing of cladding”.

But local government minister Marcus Jones – who delivered a brief address after new housing minister Alok Sharma pulled out of the conference at the last minute – said he thought the 100% failure rate of tested panels “highlights the importance of the testing process”.

Those hoping to question Mr Jones further on the government’s approach post-Grenfell were left frustrated when he swiftly left the stage after a 10-minute speech without taking any questions.

Nick Walkley (right), new chief executive of the HCA with Gaby Hinsliff
Nick Walkley (right), new chief executive of the HCA with Gaby Hinsliff
Sir Ed Lister, chair of the HCA
Sir Ed Lister, chair of the HCA

HCA finds a new purpose

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), soon to be rebranded Homes England, came out all guns blazing.

Nick Walkley, new chief executive of the HCA, is not known for mincing his words. His assessment of the organisation he has recently taken over was no exception.

The HCA needs to “rediscover its purpose”, he said. “Many people, as I go about the country, have fond memories of the HCA’s antecedents, are desperate for an agency that is more activist, but have become unclear about the central purpose of the HCA.

“For me it’s an opportunity to look back and rediscover the purpose of the agency when it was founded.”

Sir Ed Lister, chair of the HCA, certainly isn’t shy about expressing an opinion or three – and this time he was in an assertive mood.

He told the audience the HCA should take a “much more aggressive stance” towards buying land, and beat off competition from housing associations if necessary.

Meanwhile, Mr Walkley was encouraging landlords to make the case for social rented homes to government. “If ever there was a time for the sector to assert the economic and social value of social rent, it is now,” he enthused.

Let’s just hope there’s enough land left for these social rented homes once Sir Ed has taken his pick.

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