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Northern housing associations demand ‘new deal’ from government
Northern housing associations have asked for “a new type of deal” to regenerate areas in the North of England.
Homes for the North, an organisation made up of 17 of the largest developing housing associations in the North, called for these “renewal deals” in a report published this week.
It said each deal would focus on a single place and “integrate existing investment streams in housing, transport and local economic development”.
In the report it also restated its call for a target of 50,000 homes a year in the North, demanded that the government require local authorities in the North to align their Local Industrial Strategies with housing supply plans, and asked the government to establish a pan-Northern body to ensure that housing and infrastructure are planned together.
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Speaking at the launch of the report in parliament, Jake Berry, minister for the Northern Powerhouse, said: “Human capital is about creating the homes that the North needs and homes that people want to live in. And that is why I’m so pleased with the ambition of this report today.
“This report demonstrates what is at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse. It is about co-operation and one of the most eye-catching things in this report is about creating that housing co-operation group across the North of England.”
In 2017, Homes for the North told the government that its housing target for the region ought to be 50,000 homes a year, in a report welcomed by then-communities secretary Sajid Javid.
Shortly after this, however, the government’s assessment of housing need put the number at just 40,000 homes a year.
Speaking at this week’s event, Carol Matthews, chair of Homes for the North, said: “Previous research reveals that the North needs 500,000 homes over the next ten years just to keep pace with current demand.
“A new approach is needed to get the good-quality homes we need across the region.”
John Healey, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, also spoke at the launch, said: “Ambitious Northern areas want to build for the future but ministers are making it harder for them to do that. I hope this research will bolster the case for more investment and more decent, affordable homes for the North of England.”
