Northern growth strategy: next steps

The Northern Housing Consortium responded to the invitation for views from Government to help shape the next phase of the Northern Growth Strategy, ahead of a further update in the autumn.

Our submission to Government draws heavily on our Renew inquiry into housing-led regeneration for northern growth, supported by Homes for the North and Muse.

The Northern Growth Strategy: Next Steps sets out how the Government will drive growth in the North of England, working alongside local leaders. It recognises housing-led growth as a driver of productivity in northern towns and cities and commits to deeper devolution that empowers local leaders to shape and deliver growth.

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said: “The strategy focuses on the Northern Growth Corridor and densification of housing in the region’s major cities, promising to deliver 127,000 new homes. The recommendations are welcome, but there is a wider opportunity to make sure no one and nowhere is left behind. Our recent Renew report found that housing-led regeneration could unlock at least 500,000 high-quality homes across the North of England, creating thriving communities while supporting growth and productivity.

“Housing providers and other stakeholders told us viability is a widespread structural barrier across the North. Lower land values and high remediation costs for brownfield sites make many schemes unviable without Government support. In addition, lower rents but similar costs for northern social housing providers means investment in refurbishing and replacing homes often comes at the cost of building new homes.

“We are calling on the Government to provide the right support, including long-term devolved regeneration funding, and local capacity building, to seize the opportunity offered by housing-led regeneration. This will help achieve the housing ambitions set out in the Northern Growth strategy and support smaller towns and places in the North to thrive.  Our policy recommendations are about ensuring that regeneration is viable and achievable across the North, which has diverse needs and challenges. We are hopeful that the increased devolution recommended in the strategy will help target investment where it is needed most, including those smaller places.”

The Renew Report places the quality of homes and places at the heart of regeneration, viewing it as essential for health, wellbeing, and economic growth. We believe that with targeted investment and policy support, housing-led regeneration could unlock at least 500,000 high-quality homes across the North of England, creating thriving communities while supporting wider growth and productivity.

 

Renew update

Over the past few months, the NHC has been continuing to press the case for regeneration in the North with the Government and building the political momentum around Renew – our inquiry into housing-led regeneration for northern growth – supported by Homes for the North and Muse. 

Our most recent work on Renew includes:  

  • sharing our Renew report with northern MPs, ministers, Mayors, and other political stakeholders – including Andy Burnham MP and No.10 housing advisors.  
  • meeting with Tom Riordan, Northern Growth Envoy at HM Treasury. We’ve also met HM Treasury policy officials to discuss our Renew findings and understand their priorities.   
  • holding a policy roundtable with NHC members and Emma Payne, Director of Social Housing, MHCLG, and Selvin Brown, Director Net Zero Buildings, DESNZ, to explore the findings of our Renew report and discuss the real-world challenges and opportunities. 
  • discussed Renew at an MHCLG Social Housing Directorate away day, as part of the panel ‘Social Housing: Looking Ahead’. 
  • continuing to work with Lord Best OBE DL and Andrew Cooper MP, as Chairs of our Renew Inquiry and Westminster Group respectively. Lord Best OBE DL wrote an article for The House magazine (the magazine for parliamentarians) and Andrew Cooper MP wrote an article for Red Brick.  
  • Andrew Cooper also raised Renew in parliament during a Westminster Hall debate on estate regeneration. He highlighted our Inquiry and said that without significant intervention 100,000 social homes in the North could be lost over the coming decade. He also spoke about the far-reaching benefits of housing-led regeneration, and the need for regeneration to be delivered with communities. The overall tone of the debate was positive, with the need for good resident engagement a strong focus. It’s great to see how the rhetoric on regeneration is changing. The debate and a comment from the NHC was covered in Inside Housing.   
  • sharing our Renew findings and recommendations with key Labour Party figures at the Fabian Society’s Housing Summit in London, where Patrick Murray, Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) was on a panel with Martin McCluskey MP, now Minister for Local Energy and Jobs and Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley, along with social housing activist and author Kwajo Tweneboa.        
  • hosting a one-day Great North theatre on Renew at Housing 26 – with key contributions from Lord Best OBE DL, who set out how the continued focus on new homes was crowding out regeneration, but was optimistic the tide was turning. Martin Hilditch, Editor, Inside Housing, a whole host of brilliant NHC members, along with Sheffield resident, Lara Joyce, added to the packed agenda! The Great North Theatre showcased some of the fantastic work going on in the North. The message was clear – even more can be done with further support for housing-led regeneration and continued devolution.  
  • continuing to work with Inside Housing as part of their Spotlight on Regeneration series. Recent regeneration articles can be found on their website. We also worked with Red Brick on a series of articles on regeneration.   

The NHC team has also been developing resources to help you activate engagement with Renew with your local politicians. We will share these with members in the coming weeks and months to help build momentum to make this change happen. If you would like to take action now – get in touch with Saskia and we’ll work with you or your team, email – Saskia.neibig@northern-consortium.org.uk  

We will also discuss how you can help Renew as part of our joint Communications and Policy Network in September – you can view further details about the event and book your place at My NHC.  

Announcing the recipients of the 2026 Unlocking Success Bursary 

 

We are delighted to announce the recipients of Northern Housing Consortium’s Unlocking Success Bursary. Each winner has received £500 to support their education, training or community ambitions, supporting social housing residents across the North to achieve their goals. 

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, who we will be celebrating at this December’s Unlocking Success Bursary Lunch. For more information on joining us at the Bursary Lunch, please visit MyNHC. 

Livin 

  • Allan Todd: Selected to help him return to employment as a recovery driver, rebuilding his confidence and sense of purpose while making a positive difference to others. 
  • Billy Clifton: Supported to establish an affordable community shop offering good-quality second-hand goods, helping local people on low incomes while reducing waste. 
  • Ahmad Mohmd Dib Elhasan: Awarded funding for the licences needed to become a taxi driver, helping him achieve financial independence and support his family. 

Believe 

  • Domingo Ibanez Navarro: Supported with a high-performance laptop and learning materials for his BSc in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. 

Connect 

  • Lexi Thompson Brighty: Selected to pursue her ambition of becoming airline cabin crew, with funding towards her Level 2 Diploma, safety training and passport. 

Gentoo 

  • Emma Naisby: Awarded funding for a Level 3 dog walking and boarding qualification, supporting both her business ambitions and personal wellbeing. 

Halton Housing 

  • Laura Mason: Supported to train as a Reiki practitioner and integrate the practice into her counselling work, helping clients with their wellbeing and healing. 

Kingston upon Hull City Council 

  • Craig Smith: Selected for his commitment to fellow residents. He will provide shared digital equipment in his supported housing complex and renew food-hygiene qualifications to help run community events. 

Karbon 

  • Jolene Metcalf: Supported to complete a Higher Level Teaching Assistant course and develop her career helping children with special educational needs. 
  • Jemma Marie Smith: Awarded funding for a Level 3 Certificate in Property Agency, enabling her to build on her accounting qualification and pursue a career in property. 

Leeds City Council 

  • Lydia Hirst: Selected to undertake specialist bridal and prom hairstyling training, helping her develop her talents after overcoming significant challenges in mainstream education. 

Newcastle City Council 

  • Ava Phillipa Mallloy: Supported with an iPad for her criminology, psychology and law studies, reducing the impact of hypermobility and fibromyalgia on her ability to take notes. 
  • Gamilah Faraj: Awarded funding for a sewing machine and course, with plans to earn an income and teach sewing to women with limited English. 
  • Omid Noorzai: Supported to study AI programming and purchase a laptop, strengthening his employability and helping him work towards establishing his own consultancy after rebuilding his life in Newcastle. 

Places for People 

  • Paul Daley: Selected to retrain as a gym instructor, gaining the qualifications now required to return to a career he loves and help others achieve their goals. 

St Leger 

  • Beth Quinton: Supported to complete a Level 3 Forest School qualification and help children with additional needs build confidence through nature. 

Sheffield City Council 

  • Victoria Ashton: Awarded funding for a laptop and travel costs while completing a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course focused on supporting children with autism. 
  • Alexander Shreeve: Supported to obtain a higher-level HGV licence, opening access to better-paid employment and greater financial stability. 
  • Lyndsey Fronczyk: Selected to support her paramedic training, including a laptop for home study, as she works towards providing high-quality care in her community. 
  • Florentina Luca: Awarded funding for a laptop to complete the English and science qualifications required for nursing, easing financial pressures as a single parent. 
  • Lisa McCann: Supported to undertake a floristry course and pursue her ambition of opening a shop specialising in funeral arrangements. 
  • Luwam Gebreab: Awarded funding for a laptop to complete online coursework and research for a nursing degree. 
  • Maria Pearson-Sacker: Supported with a laptop and books for university-access studies in maths and English, with the goal of progressing to a nursing degree. 
  • Deryn Jade West: Selected for support with university fees and materials while completing a bachelor’s degree in Mental Health Nursing. 
  • Wahada Majid: Awarded funding towards registration fees for psychotherapy training, enabling continued support for people experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety and depression. 
  • Gertrude Omaboe: Supported with travel, learning materials and childcare while studying for an MSc in Occupational Therapy. 
  • Abdul Rahman Mohammed Fadil Ahmed: Awarded funding for a laptop, books and equipment for an Open University Diploma of Higher Education, building on his previous experience as a primary-school teacher. 
  • Lauren Kerry: Supported with a laptop and living costs while training as an adult nurse and completing placements, alongside caring for her child. 
  • Samantha Jacques: Awarded funding for a laptop and course fees while completing a Level 2 Teaching Assistant qualification. 
  • Omobowale Ogunrinola: Supported with a laptop, learning materials and childcare costs while studying to become a social worker. 
  • Rachel Susan Stringer: Awarded funding for a laptop and End of Life Care course fees, helping her pursue a career supporting people in the care sector. 
  • Leanne Lawson: Supported with the cost of an Access to Higher Education course in Social Work, easing financial pressure while she cares for her two children. 
  • Rikki James Latham: Selected to restart construction training through night classes, with support for travel and tools as he works towards becoming a bricklayer.