The Northern Housing Summit 2024 – Event Write-up

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NHC convenes housing leaders for 2024 Northern Housing Summit

In November, the NHC held its flagship event, the Northern Housing Summit.

Chaired by Mark Easton, the Summit’s focus was on a new Parliament and new partnerships. The event provided attendees the opportunity to discuss the most important priorities for the North’s social housing sector, with the key themes of:

  • new supply and regeneration
  • improving the quality of existing homes
  • reaching net zero
  • the opportunities from greater devolution in the North

Welcoming attendees to Leeds for the event, NHC chief executive Tracy Harrison detailed the early work the new government has done on housing as it attempts to reach its ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. Tracy also highlighted the work the NHC has been doing to work in partnership with government and NHC members to achieve shared ambitions.

From one Tracy to another, the first keynote speech of the day was from Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin. Mayor Brabin emphasised the importance of devolution in bringing thousands of new homes across the region, with “decisions made for our region, by our region”. She also confirmed that she is committed to delivering 5,000 new affordable homes over the next five years and said that there is potential for at least 38,000 new homes to be built on brownfield land in the region. The mayor also cited the collaborative work of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership in supporting the devolution deal and transforming the lives of people across the region.

It was a special Summit this year, with cause for celebration for the NHC’s 50th anniversary. Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East and former Chair of the Housing Select Committee, provided a keynote address on the last 50 years in housing and looked ahead at the opportunities for the future.

To coincide with the Summit, the NHC launched the early release of a keynote chapter from its annual state of the region report, the Northern Housing Monitor. The chapter, ‘Housing Poverty in the North’ finds that 25% of households are in poverty after housing costs. To launch the chapter, delegates heard from NHC executive director, Patrick Murray, and Onward Homes CEO, Bronwen Rapley, who discussed the research and the impact of housing costs on northern communities.

On to another key theme of the day – meeting the net zero challenge in the North. Delegates heard from panellists Thirteen Group CEO, Matt Forrest; Yorkshire Housing Resident, Steve Mackenzie; and Director of Net Zero Buildings at the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Selvin Brown. Matt Forrest provided the housing association perspective on energy efficiency funding and partnership working. Steve, also a The Social Housing Tenants’ Climate Jury juror, focused on the importance of engaging closely with residents when improving homes, saying that “we’re the ones that live in the homes, live in the areas, it should be about us”.

Selvin highlighted the work the new government has done on net zero funding and the great work being undertaken by housing providers across the country. He announced that in the most recent tranche of the ‘Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund’, there were bids totalling £900m more than the £1.29bn provided in funding, illustrating the appetite in the sector to improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Delegates had the opportunity to hear from Chief Executive of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), Fiona MacGregor, who provided a keynote speech on regulation and innovation. Fiona noted the RSH had seen in decrease in the forecast of housing delivery from social housing providers. She also said the recurring theme when providers don’t meet the new consumer standards is the link to poor data-keeping.

The event also provided delegates with a choice of various professional practice sessions focused on key issues for the sector. These were ‘Building Resilience: Developing a response to climate change’, Technology and Health – how digital can enable the sector to do more’, ‘Creating Cultures Fit for the Future’ and ‘Implementing Awaab’s Law’. Social housing tenants, civil servants, housing professionals and NHC partners made up panels for these sessions to discuss these key topics and answer questions.

With quality a key priority for NHC members, attendees then heard from a panel of experts about improving the quality of social homes in the North.

Ruhena Ahmed, Deputy Director of Social Housing Quality at MHCLG; Sharon Kemp, CEO at Rotherham MBC; Louise Bassett, CEO at Gentoo Group; Hull City Council’s Ben Hanson; and the NHC’s Patrick Murray explored the lessons from past quality and regeneration work as well as the opportunities for the future. Ruhena noted the imminent implementation of Awaab’s Law and a Decent Homes Standard coming in 2025.

With the new government’s headline target for new homes, expert panellists discussed the challenges and opportunities for delivering the homes the North needs and how to make delivery a reality. The panel was made up of Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing at Homes England; Jonathan Clifton, Deputy Director for Homes Ownership at MHCLG; Charlie Norman, NHC Chair and CEO of MSV Housing; Pam Smith, CEO at Newcastle City Council; and Marcus Dixon, Director of UK Residential Research at JLL. Shahi asserted Homes England’s emphasis on placemaking and ensuring the homes we build have a strong connection to their locality. Shahi also confirmed the agency is keen to establish long-term partnerships with local and combined authorities and is committed to the devolution agenda.

In the final session of the day, delegates heard a range of speakers building on the NHC’s Pride in Place research to consider the role of NHC members in the devolution agenda and creating thriving communities. Chairman of Create Streets, Nicholas Boys Smith, explained the Create Streets view on what makes a great place to live. Chair of Placeshapers, Matthew Walker, declared that it’s about the decision being taken at an appropriate level to ensure people’s needs are considered. Jill Summers, Head of Safer and Stronger Communities at Liverpool City Council, explained the work of her team in ensuring that community cohesion is a priority, particularly in the wake of the Summer 2024 riots. To bring the day to a close, Benwell resident Leanne Salem highlighted the community initiatives and support available which allow her community to feel pride in their area and their homes.

 

The NHC would like to thank its sponsors for making the Summit possible: Appello, Campbell Tickell, BullWall, Consortium Procurement, FRC Group, JLL, Locata, Marsh, Mediaworks, Prosper, Taking Care, TSA and Ward Hadaway.

 

If you would like to find out more about the Northern Housing Summit, or be involved in the next one, please contact Kate Maughan, Director of Member Engagement Kate.Maughan@northern-consortium.org.uk