Proud to contribute to something meaningful

We welcomed Rosie Beckford to the team earlier in the year. She is a Procurement & Contracts Officer, working for Consortium Procurement, our commercial arm which delivers compliant, practical, and efficient procurement for public sector organisations.

Rosie shares her experience so far.

 

What attracted you to your role?

I really enjoy the variety of the role – no day or procurement solution is the same and it is very important to me to work in an environment where I am continuously learning.

I am proud to work for Consortium Procurement and Northern Housing Consortium – they have a brilliant organisational model, and I feel like I am contributing towards something meaningful.

 

Describe your typical day?

I work with members to manage the call–off process for frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems.

 

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

The most valuable thing you can give someone is your time.

 

What do you like to do to switch-off?

I’m always content curled up with a book, a cup of tea and my cat. I also love long walks and spending time in nature.

 

How would you sum up working for the NHC and Consortium Procurement, in three words?

Interesting, positive, collaborative.

Partnership working on show as MHCLG visit the North East

As part of our work to support housing partnerships across the North and work closely with key government departments, we welcomed colleagues from the Social Housing Directorate at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to the North East for a tour of members’ sites.

Emma Payne (Director, Social Housing) and Nick Burkitt (Deputy Director of Affordable Housing Regulation & Investment), who are responsible for the Affordable Homes Programme, spent the day engaging with the North East Housing Partnership (NEHP) with visits to regeneration and development sites across the region.

The tour began with a visit to Livin Housing’s Jubilee Fields Estate in Shildon. The estate is a shining example of Livin’s placemaking approach to regeneration, with a strong focus on engaging with the community and local partners to address estate-wide issues.

Next stop was to Livin’s Laburnum Grove development in St. Helen Auckland, a new 59-home development on brownfield land. All homes meet the Building Regulations Part M4(2) for accessibility and adaptability, and Livin made one home in the development a high energy efficiency demonstrator home in anticipation of a Future Homes Standard.

Midway through the day, delegates stopped for a lunch event with a presentation from NEHP Chair, Paul Fiddaman. With housing association and local authority representatives from across the NEHP in attendance, Paul presented on the challenges and opportunities for north east housing providers in delivering new homes and regenerating communities.

Included in the visit was Karbon Homes’ 750-home Seaham Garden Village development site, with funding for the project coming through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with Homes England. The development will feature a primary school, health and wellbeing facility, and an innovation centre. Karbon plans to heat the affordable homes using a district heating scheme powered by minewater heat.

Travelling further North along the coast, delegates visited Gentoo’s Cricketers Hill development in North Sunderland. The site was previously a Primary School but was demolished in 2009 and in 2023 the site transferred to Gentoo, with 115 affordable homes now under development. Each home will achieve an EPC A rating, with Air Source Heat Pumps, PV Panel, fill insulation and electric vehicle charging.

The final leg of the visit brought delegates to Bernicia’s Holborn Docks development in South Shields. Bernicia’s 36 affordable homes will be delivered alongside a wider regeneration project on the former industrial site, with South Tyneside Council leading the project with the aim to reinvigorate the brownfield land and deliver high-quality family homes.

The visit provided senior civil servants, responsible for funding and policy decisions – including the delivery of the Affordable Homes Programme – which impact social housing providers, with the opportunity to see the productive work members are doing. It highlighted the great partnership work which is happening across the North to deliver new homes and regeneration projects.

The NHC will continue to engage with civil servants and other key stakeholders to highlight the work our members are doing to transform communities across the North.

 

 

 

Consultations on Rents and Right to Buy now open

Two key consultations have opened following the Budget.  

At the Budget the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that social housing rents would be permitted to rise by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) +1% for five years from April 2026. This has been accompanied by a consultation into future rent policy, including looking at potentially extending the proposed rent settlement to ten years, something the NHC and other sector bodies have called for.  

The Government also opened a consultation on proposed changes to the Right to Buy. This includes reducing and capping the discounts available to tenants, extending the number of years somebody would need to be a tenant before they could benefit from the Right to Buy, and potentially exempting new build properties from the Right to Buy. The NHC  welcomed these proposals providing a comment in the government announcement.  

We will respond to both consultations and are keen to hear the views of our members on these issues. We are especially interested in hearing how extending the rent settlement to ten years would help members to invest in new and existing properties.  

You will find the consultation on future rent policy, which closes on 23rd December here, and the Right to Buy consultation, which closes on 15th January here. If you would like to share views on either consultation or arrange a conversation, please contact tom.kennedy@northern-consortium.org.uk   

FRC Group: What do we offer?

We are FRC Living and we’re experts in providing durable, compliant and fire-retardant furniture, white goods, and accessories for all types of social housing.

Whether its hostels, resettlement properties, temporary accommodation, next steps housing, furnished tenancies, supported housing, market rented properties or key worker accommodation, we can help.

Key services include:

  • Contract furniture supply: We supply all kinds of furniture, white goods and accessories. We deliver nationwide, with core items supplied within five days – and all items are warrantied in social housing settings.
  • Project management: Let us handle installation from start to finish. We can support housing projects of any size, budget, or timeline, with all furniture installed in-situ and all packaging removed for recycling.
  • Starter packs and accessories: From kitchen utensils and cookware to bed linens and toiletries, we provide everything residents need to feel at home from day one.
  • Long-term support: We offer ongoing assistance to help landlords maintain high accommodation standards and minimise relet times.

FRC Living is all about making things easier so landlords can focus on core activities. Simply place an order, and we’ll do the rest.

 

We are Buckingham Interiors and we’re passionate about creating beautiful and functional living spaces.

We specialise in high-quality interior design, bespoke furniture, and accessories for independent living, sheltered living, and extra care housing.

Here’s what we offer:

  • Interior design: Our sector-specific design services blend style, comfort, and aesthetics with practical solutions that cater to the diverse needs of residents, including dementia specifications and dementia friendliness.
  • Project consultation and management: We’re with you every step of the way on new builds or refurbishments. Working closely together, we deliver design-led interior solutions with packages tailored to your project’s unique needs.
  • Furniture supply and installation: We provide high quality, fire regulation compliant furniture, accessories, artwork, and window coverings, all delivered and installed according to your floor plan.

When you choose Buckingham Interiors, you’re tapping into 30 years of experience in design-led furnishings. We’re all about combining comfort, style, and practicality to create living spaces that people love to be in.

 

We are Furniture Flex and we’re here to help landlords tackle the challenges of providing furnished tenancies.

We offer everything needed to turn a house into a home—from furnishings and white goods to appliances and everyday essentials like utensils and bedding—all through flexible, cost-neutral options. Our innovative packages let you choose between rental, purchase, or a mix of both.

Offering furnished tenancies can deliver many benefits, including:

  • Lower tenant turnover
  • Reduced void losses from vacant properties
  • Reduced rent arrears
  • Better tenant engagement
  • Increased demand for hard-to-let properties

Furniture Flex also partners with End Furniture Poverty, using their extensive research to create solutions that help landlords set up furnished tenancies and help tenants escape furniture poverty.

 

We are End Furniture Poverty, and we are the campaigning and social research arm of FRC Group.

Launched in 2015, the initiative was created to raise national awareness of the issue of furniture poverty and to develop scaled solutions to drive change.

Our research helps us dig deep into the causes and impacts of furniture poverty, so we can create evidence-based solutions. We use these insights to fuel campaigns across the social housing sector and lobby local and central governments to improve furniture provision.

Some of our current campaigns include Make a House a Home, which calls for at least 10% of social homes to be furnished, and our ongoing efforts to secure long-term, ring-fenced funding for local authority crisis schemes.

We work closely with a wide range of partners and stakeholders to ensure furniture provision is widespread and accessible. We’re also key players in broader efforts to tackle poverty. We provide ongoing support to social landlords, charities, local authorities, and others to help them set up furniture schemes, making sure everyone has access to the essential items they need for a secure life.

Together, we can End Furniture Poverty.

For more information visit https://frcgroup.co.uk

Maximise Efficiency and Compliance with Our Comprehensive Housing Solutions

Guest blog by NHC supporter member Locata

Navigating the complexities of the housing sector—compliance with regulations, seamless application management, and smooth service delivery—can be a daunting task. Our suite of integrated solutions is designed to simplify these challenges, enabling housing authorities, providers, and local councils to operate more efficiently and deliver better services.

Lettings: Streamline Housing Allocations

Managing housing applications can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Our Lettings solution simplifies the process, whether you use Choice-Based Allocations or Nominations-Based Allocations. From application assessment to property advertising and applicant shortlisting, our system automates key steps to ensure faster, more accurate matches between applicants and available properties.

The result? Reduced administrative burden, quicker turnarounds, and a higher level of service that leads to greater resident satisfaction.

HPA2: Comprehensive Case Management for Homelessness Prevention

In response to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, local authorities are required to act earlier and prevent homelessness. Our HPA2 system is built to help you meet these obligations, offering powerful tools for case management, tracking prevention actions, and ensuring full legislative compliance.

With HPA2, you can manage cases more effectively, provide timely support, and reduce homelessness in your community by empowering your team to work smarter and more efficiently. HPA2 is packed with features that reduce admin burdens on your team – allowing them to focus on the work which has an impact – prevention and resolution of your clients housing problems.

HRS: Efficient Housing Support Pathway Management

For vulnerable individuals, timely access to housing-related support can make all the difference. Our HRS (Housing-Related Support) solution is designed to streamline referral pathways and manage support services—whether floating or accommodation-based.

With real-time updates from service providers, HRS gives you the visibility you need to track available services and place applicants in the right support pathways quickly and effectively. This ensures a smoother process and better outcomes for both applicants and service providers. HRS is an exceptionally flexible module for managing and monitoring the capacity and work of your commissioned services.

PSH: Simplify Private Sector Housing Standards Management

Managing the private rented sector can be complex, especially with constantly evolving regulations. Our PSH (Private Sector Housing) solution simplifies compliance by incorporating detailed HHSRS (Housing Health and Safety Rating System) assessments and providing tools for managing both statutory and non-statutory case types.

With PSH, you can easily monitor property conditions, ensure tenant safety, and address compliance issues efficiently, all while maintaining high standards and reducing the risk of non-compliance.

Estates: Fully Integrated Housing Management

Effective housing management requires more than just tracking tenants and properties—it requires a connected, comprehensive system that supports all aspects of housing operations. Estates is our fully integrated housing management solution, designed to work seamlessly with key functions like payment processing, financial management, and more.

With Estates, you can easily manage tenants, monitor property maintenance, and handle financial transactions—all from one central platform. The result is a fully connected, efficient workflow that saves time, reduces errors, and improves service delivery.

Why Choose Our Solutions?

Each of our products is tailored to meet your unique needs. From streamlining application processes to ensuring compliance with complex regulations, we provide the tools and support you need to deliver exceptional housing services. With our solutions, you’ll enjoy:

  • Increased Efficiency: Automate key processes to save time and reduce administrative overhead.
  • Enhanced Compliance: Stay ahead of regulatory changes and ensure your organisation remains compliant with the latest laws.
  • Improved Service Delivery: Deliver faster, more effective support to applicants and tenants, resulting in better overall outcomes.
  • Seamless Integration: Our solutions integrate with your existing infrastructure, providing a cohesive, connected workflow.

Ready to take your housing services to the next level? Let’s talk! Our expert team is here to help you implement the perfect solutions for your needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your success.

 

Prosper leading the way in delivering decarbonisation retrofit solutions

In August 2022, specialist procurement consultancy Prosper launched the first-to-market decarbonisation retrofit and investment work framework.

Fast forward two years and Prosper has now facilitated over 50 contracts with housing providers and local authorities across the UK, unlocking more than £200 million worth of construction opportunities.

The Decarbonisation Retrofit Framework (including refurbishment works) is an all-encompassing procurement solution that covers a range of decarbonisation retrofit works with the option to include standard investment works.

The innovative solution provides the delivery mechanism for a range of retrofit works aimed at insulating fabric-first elements of homes through Principal Contractors who will be able to deliver component schemes or whole-house approaches to include typical cyclical investment works, for example, kitchen and bathroom instalments.

It compliments the works supported through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (SDF) and ECO4 works, meaning contractors have to be compliant with PAS 2035 installer accreditation requirements and hold Trustmark certification.

Prosper’s staff have extensive experience and have facilitated contracts on properties ranging from 1-bedroom flats and bedsits in rural communities to 4-bedroom homes and multiple 18-storey tower blocks in urban towns and cities.

North Devon Homes are committed to improving the energy efficiency of their homes whilst helping customers to lower their energy bills and keep them warm during the colder, winter months.

Last year, our client was successful in securing funding from SHDF wave 2 to enable them to upgrade 120 properties to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band C or above.

They engaged Prosper to facilitate the procurement of this 2-year project, accessing the Decarbonisation Retrofit Framework – Lot 8 South West, offering a direct award to supply chain partner, LivGreen.

Works have now been successfully completed on the first site at Tewsley Close in Bickington, which involved upgrading four blocks of flats and eleven bungalows, all of which had night-storage heating.

Improvements have included the installation of PV panels to the flats which will provide free electricity and can be diverted to high heat retention storage heaters which are more economical to run and can be boosted by the PV panels during the day.

The properties have also benefitted from having external mineral wall cavity insulation removed and replaced with better performing thermal bead. Upgrades have been made to windows and doors and assessments indicate that the properties are now performing above EPC C rating, with some achieving a rating of band B.

Earlier this year, Golden Lane Housing accessed Prosper’s Decarbonisation Retrofit Framework and has successfully completed the retrofit of 36 homes across the North West.

Our client provides safe, supported housing for people with a learning disability and autistic people and worked in partnership with RE:GEN North West to deliver the improvements, focussing on upgrading homes with energy-efficient measures and modernising key facilities.

The works included external, cavity wall, loft and roof insulation, the fitting of air source heat pumps, insulated external doors and A+ windows and upgrading of heating controls. Prior to the works, the EPC rating of these properties were D, E and F but are now performing at EPC C and B.

The retrofit project plays a critical role in helping Golden Lane Housing meet its long-term sustainability commitments. By focusing on energy efficiency, the project supports the organisation’s goal to significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 2030, as part of its broader sustainability strategy. The successful completion of the retrofit is a key step in fulfilling these ambitious targets while enhancing the value and quality of its housing portfolio.

 

Melissa O’Donnell, Director of Property and Sustainability, said:

“Golden Lane Housing is delighted with the success of the retrofit works completed on 36 of our properties across the North West of England. By incorporating innovative energy-efficient measures such as air source heat pumps, enhanced insulation, and A+ rated windows and doors, we’ve significantly improved the energy performance of these homes, with EPC ratings rising from D, E, and F to C and B. These improvements not only help us meet our long-term sustainability goals but demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the comfort and affordability of our tenants’ homes.”

Rod Brasington, Chief Executive of Prosper, said:

“At Prosper, we support our local authority, housing association and supply chain partners with end-to-end solutions that achieve scale, compliance and cost-efficiency.

“We are delighted to have played a significant part in the successful procurement of contracts on behalf of North Devon Homes and Golden Lane Housing and to hear about the positive impact these works have had on their housing stock and their tenants. These two projects demonstrate the scale and complexity of the contracts we can facilitate.

“The successful implementation and delivery of our first decarbonisation retrofit and investment work framework has proved to be extremely popular with over 50 decarbonisation contracts to the value of £200 million placed through it.

“The experience we have gained from the delivery of this framework, has helped to further strengthen our position in the market with the forthcoming rollout of a new Decarbonisation and Investment Installation Works framework, which will coincide with Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 applications.

“The initial decarbonisation retrofit framework will still run concurrently with the new framework and landlords will be able to utilise either framework. Applications to return tenders closed in October 2024 and we received over 60 submissions, which demonstrates Prosper’s market-leading position in the Decarbonisation market and the appetite for contractors to be awarded a place on this framework.”

 

The framework covers regional lots across the North East, Yorkshire and The Humber, North West, East Midlands, East of England, South East, South West, London, West Midlands, and Wales.

The new framework will provide landlords with an innovative and compliant ‘one-stop-shop’ solution route to delivery through appointed Principal Contractors and coincides with Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 applications, offering traditional investment works to deliver component schemes or whole house approaches.

Typical works covered under the framework will include internal and external wall insulation, ground source and air source heat pumps, electric heating solutions, PV systems, ventilation systems, roofing works as well as traditional works such as the installation of new kitchens and bathrooms, replacement of windows and doors and solutions to tackle damp and mould.

A little bit of water can go a long way – as can the damage it causes. Are your tenants “escape of water ready”?

Escape of water damage is one of the most common types of domestic property damage claims, with insurers paying out almost £2million for it every day*.  These claims are one of the biggest concerns for insurers as well as causing considerable upheaval, inconvenience, and financial and emotional distress to your tenants when their personal property is damaged. 

Whilst some of these claims may be unavoidable due to storm or failed pipes, many can be prevented with care taken by occupiers. By actively looking to prevent water damage losses through a promoted programme of house-proud diligence (risk management vigilance), you can help safeguard against worry, inconvenient repairs, and escalating insurance premiums. 

Where to start?

It is crucial that your tenants know the location of their stopcock and other isolation values so that the water supply can be quickly turned off in the event of a leak. Location labels should be used to highlight where they are. And don’t forget to regularly check them to ensure they operate properly when they are needed most. 

Tenants should also be encouraged to check washing machine and drainage pipes as they can become loose overtime. One of these pipes becoming disconnected or incorrectly fitted could cause significant water damage to several properties. So, encourage tenants to check around the base of appliances to ensure there are no visible signs of water as small dips can quickly escalate into something more serious. 

A number of organisations are now looking to provide very competitively priced washing machine installation services to their tenants to encourage them to make sure appliances are installed safely and correctly. Alternatively, you may wish to build a panel of approved plumbers and installers to fit appliances – helping to prevent those DIY failures.

One of the most preventable and often the costliest causes of water damage losses is failure of bath and shower seals, and old, badly fitted or miss-aligned waste pipes. This damage can go unnoticed for long periods of time and sometimes the leak only becomes apparent when the bathroom floor collapses into the flat below. Is it possible to have a system of preventative checks and proactive replacement of sealants around sinks, baths and showers, along with hairline cracks in shower trays? Regular visual checks will help you identify unseen leaks and act before it’s too late.

Slow draining sinks and baths can often be a warning sign that there is a blockage that needs to be cleared. Do you take the opportunity to remind tenants that discarded nappies, wet wipes, or cotton buds should not be flushed down the toilet?

Such reminders and increased awareness will help make your tenants “escape of water ready”!

If you would like guidance or suggestions on risk prevention steps suitable for inclusion in tenant handbooks/information packs or details of contents insurance schemes specifically designed for Local Authority and Housing Association tenants, please contact XXX 

 

* https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/home-insurance/burst-pipes-and-water-leaks/

Taking Care’s top 7 tips to successfully navigating your digital transition.

The digital switchover has already begun, but what does it mean for social landlords and supported living providers?

As a social housing provider, you’re likely aware of the critical shift from analogue to digital (A2D) telecare. This change offers unparalleled advantages but requires thoughtful planning to ensure smooth, beneficial implementation. Here are some ways Taking Care can support you in your digital journey, ensuring you meet your residents’ needs now and in the future.

Transitioning from A2D telecare schemes can be a significant undertaking for social and supported living providers. It can particularly impact those responsible for sheltered or supported housing, where hard-wired alarms, warden intercom or dispersed alarm units will be much harder to support by 2027.

But despite the challenges, a switch to digital offers numerous benefits, such as improved efficiency, enhanced service delivery, and increased resident (and employee) satisfaction.

Wherever you are on your digital journey we can help. Here are our top 7 tips to successfully navigating your A2D transition:

  1. Outline a clear strategy and plan. Include the goals, objectives, and expected outcomes of transitioning to digital care. Taking time to develop a clear and cohesive Digital Transformation Plan that’s right for your organisation will ensure that all your team are on board.
  2. Conduct a thorough assessment. Before changing anything, conduct a comprehensive assessment of your existing analogue telecare system. Identifying its strengths, weaknesses, and any potential challenges that may arise during the transition will help you develop a well-informed plan.
  3. Engage all stakeholders. Engaging stakeholders early on, particularly those who may be resistant to change, ensures their buy-in and helps identify valuable insights.
  4. Choose the right technology partner. Look for a reputable provider with a proven track record in digital telecare solutions. Evaluate their expertise, reliability, scalability, and compatibility with your existing infrastructure. Consider a technology agnostic supplier that isn’t tied to any single manufacturer and can work with you collaboratively to select the right technology to fit with your current estate.
  5. Ensure data security and privacy. Digital telecare involves the collection and storage of sensitive resident data. Implement robust data security measures to protect personal information and comply with relevant data protection regulations. Conduct regular audits to identify and address any vulnerabilities. Again, look at suppliers that value both you and your service user’s data security and privacy and are willing to put this at the highest level in their service agreements.
  6. Test and pilot programs. Before fully implementing digital telecare across your organisation, consider conducting small-scale tests or pilot programmes. This will allow you to identify and address any issues or limitations before scaling up and gather feedback to refine the system and ensure it meets users’ needs.
  7. Monitor and evaluate. Establish metrics and performance indicators to track the success of the digital telecare implementation. Regularly monitor and evaluate the system’s performance, resident satisfaction, and staff efficiency. Use this data to make informed decisions, identify areas for improvement, and continuously optimise the schemes.

By following these tips, social housing providers can effectively transition from analogue to digital telecare schemes, providing enhanced care and services to their residents while embracing the advantages of digital technology.

Wherever you are in your digital switch, we can help.

At Taking Care, we specialise in Technology Enabled Care (TEC) and offer comprehensive support for social housing providers transitioning to digital telecare with our digitally resilient 24/7 Emergency Resolution monitoring services, supporting over 120,000 people throughout the UK.

If you would like to understand how we can support you with any of the above tips, or would just like to discover more about our services, please get in touch with our Business Development Team at corporate@ppptakingcare.co.uk or call 0800 085 8037. You can download the full 7 Tips Guide here.

The North will rise again: seizing opportunities for housing-led regeneration

Maggie Rafalowicz, Director, Campbell Tickell

Guest blog by NHC supporter member Campbell Tickell

The election of a new government has put housebuilding front and centre of economic growth with the ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes over this Parliament and the promise of a long-term housing strategy to be published next Spring.

We have seen many policy announcements already, including proposals for mandatory housing targets, a New Towns Taskforce, concerted action to accelerate stalled sites, £3 billion of guarantees to support SME housebuilders, half a billion of extra investment into the Affordable Homes Programme and the focus on devolution and combined authorities. Meanwhile, for existing homes the Government has committed further funds to remediate unsafe cladding, launched a rebranded ‘warm homes’ programme, and published the Renters Rights Bill to improve standards in the private rented sector.

Much of growth in housing is aimed at the North as demonstrated by the increased housing targets. Such growth is seen as being a key driver of economic productivity, closing the longstanding gap between regions, with benefits for health and living standards. It dovetails with plans for the further devolution of powers and investment to regional mayors, with combined authorities already covering most of the North’s population.

Planning for the homes the North needs

A critical component of the government’s plans to increase housing supply lies in reform of the National Planning Policy Framework. Proposals to introduce a new standard method for assessing local housing needs translate to over 77,000 new homes in the North each year. This represents an increase of 67% compared with the current method, and contrasts with an average increase of 22% across England as a whole.

Delivery demands that local areas have a clear plan and strategy for working with partners to accommodate growth. Cross-boundary co-operation and spatial planning at the regional level is crucial, with the greatest increase in housing targets proposed outside of the core cities. There will also be debates about the trade-offs, such as the circumstances in which Green Belt (or even ‘Grey Belt’) land is released to meet housing need.

Delivering new homes in the North

Targets and plans alone do not build homes and there is a need to increase delivery output. This presents a challenge at a time when confidence in the construction sector remains low, registered providers are diverting their attention to investment in their existing homes, and local authority planning capacity is overstretched.

We know the challenges of housing delivery can be greater in the North, where lower values can threaten viability. This is particularly true on brownfield sites which require remediation and may have other infrastructure requirements. The Northern Housing Consortium have identified capacity for an additional 320,000 new homes on brownfield sites across the North, which could make a huge contribution but are likely to require significant upfront investment to deliver.

Existing homes could also provide a huge opportunity across the North, with approximately 89,000 long-term vacant homes that could be brought back into use and be a solution for households living in temporary accommodation. Stronger CPO powers and more flexible grant funding could allow such homes to be purchased, repaired and remodelled, or where appropriate enabling land assembly for regeneration schemes offering higher density and more diverse housing mixes.

Looking forward – strategy to deliver

A renewed political focus on housing and devolution stands to offer considerable benefits. It will be essential for areas to have a clear vision and strategy for housing, which takes account of local housing needs, is supported by partners and communities, and identifies the priorities for regeneration. Having such a strategy will be crucial in making the case for devolved funding and to signal opportunities for the external investment needed to deliver the homes the North needs.

Campbell Tickell’s support with housing strategies

At Campbell Tickell we have a wealth of experience of working across the North on local housing strategies. To speak to us about how we can support you, please contact Maggie Rafalowicz (Director):

Further reading: Housing strategy – what’s in it for residents? Read Maggie Rafalowicz’s recent article featured in the MJ and New Start.