Tenant Voice 2025: Two Days of Insight, Innovation and Impact 

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The Northern Housing Consortium’s 15th Annual Tenant Voice Conference brought together sector leaders and housing professionals with tenants for two days of discussion, learning, and collaboration all focused on one central theme: strong and impactful tenant engagement. 

Across both days, one message came through loud and clear: meaningful tenant voice is essential for building trust, tackling stigma, and driving the culture change our sector needs. 

Day One: Setting the Scene and Driving Standards 

The conference opened with Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes, who set the tone by reflecting on the significant changes that are currently shaping social housing. Paul shared how Karbon embeds their values into everyday behaviours, with staff appraisals linked to demonstrating customer-centric service – a practical example of putting tenants at the heart of organisational culture. 

Tenants were active from the start, asking insightful questions about training and qualifications for housing staff and emphasising the importance of high standards in how tenants are treated. 

Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at the Regulator of Social Housing, followed with an update on the regulator’s new powers and priorities. She stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and tenant engagement in improving standards. Kate highlighted how tenant satisfaction measures can act as an early warning system for landlords and repeated her call for tenants to share their views as the regulator moves forward with its four-year programme. 

Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, then shared trends from the past year, including how complaints are now better resourced and recognised as vital for learning and culture change. His message was clear: complaints aren’t something to fear; they’re an opportunity to improve. Richard also addressed stigma in language and the Ombudsman’s outreach work, which now includes one explainer document that has been translated in 300 languages! 

The morning continued with Chloe Tilford from Housing Diversity Network, who led an interactive session on unconscious bias and how misinformation can derail community efforts. Her practical tips for spotting loaded language and challenging assumptions resonated strongly with delegates. 

Luke Baptiste from South Liverpool Homes showcased how they embed tenant voice through their Customer Committee and Scrutiny Panel, visiting hundreds of homes each month to understand residents’ needs and offer support. Their #LetsTalkFacts campaign to tackle misinformation around allocations was a standout example of transparency and two-way dialogue. 

The day closed with Andy McGrory from the Building Safety Regulator, who reinforced the importance of involving residents in decisions, not doing things to them, echoing lessons from Grenfell. 

Day One highlighted the importance of restoring trust, challenging stigma, fixing bias, and ensuring safety – all underpinned by the power of tenant voice. 

 

Day Two: Collaboration and Innovation 

Day Two began with our own Liam Gregson, Senior Engagement Manager at the NHC, introducing RENEW, our housing-led regeneration inquiry. Liam outlined why this work matters; learning from the past; sharing knowledge across power structures; and securing investment for social housing in the North. 

He was followed by representatives from Magenta Living, including Adam Costello, Customer Committee Member, who gave an inspiring talk on meeting tenants where they are – not just in town halls – and Mark Armstrong, Regeneration and Public Affairs Director, who reminded us that housing is about more than bricks and mortar. Magenta Living’s JobsPlus scheme is a great example of going beyond legal requirements to empower communities. 

Next, Amy Broadley from Sir Josiah Trust shared how they bring residents into the boardroom to ensure decisions reflect real voices. Working with Emma Wilson at YD Consultants, they’ve collaborated across six landlords to tackle complaints and co-create 17 practical recommendations – from clearer communication to valuing older residents’ skills. 

We then heard from Colchester Borough Homes, who challenged us to rethink language: it’s customers, not tenants, and it is housing first, not social housing. 

A quick-fire session followed, with six landlords showcasing innovative approaches to customer involvement. Huge thanks to Cobalt Housing, North Star, Berneslai Homes, Arches Housing, and Progress Housing for sharing their work. Big or small, every organisation acknowledged this is a continuous journey – and the destination is always evolving. Each landlord acknowledged that enacting culture change must be front and centre throughout. 

 

Looking Ahead 

Across both days, delegates asked great questions and engaged in lively discussions, reinforcing that tenant voice is not a tick-box exercise – it’s a long road of culture change. From tackling stigma and bias to embedding trust and safety, the sector is committed to making this journey together. 

A huge thank you to all our speakers, delegates, and partners – especially Yvonne Davies of YD Consultants – for making this year’s conference such a success. The all the conversations across the conference have been eye-opening, inspiring, and a powerful reminder of why tenant voice matters. 

Renew Update: Second advisory group and housing partnership engagement   

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Renew, our inquiry into housing led regeneration, supported by Homes for the North and Muse is continuing to build momentum. The advisory group, made up of made up of housing association chief executives, local and regional government regeneration specialists, policy experts and academics, met for the second time this week. On the agenda were future plans for the inquiry, which include an interim report summarising findings for the Call for Evidence and other research in early summer, and plans for an visits and tours over the summer alongside resident engagement work. The group also fed back on communications plans for the inquiry.  

The NHC team has attended Housing Partnership meetings in Greater Manchester, Hull and East Yorkshire, the North East, Tees Valley, South Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire to explain more about the inquiry. They explained how partnerships can get involved by responding to the Call for Evidence, hosting visits and tours or contributing in other ways. We have further sessions in the new year with Liverpool City Region Housing Associations and the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership.

The Call for Evidence, which launched at the Northern Housing Summit is open until 27th February. It is the beginning of a comprehensive effort to gather the evidence the Government needs to act on housing-led regeneration. We want to hear directly from those with experience in planning, funding, delivering and living through regeneration. This will help us to understand what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change to ensure housing-led regeneration delivers lasting benefits for residents and communities.  

You can download the Call for Evidence on the Renew website.  

A landmark year for housing in North

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Our Chief Executive Tracy Harrison looks back at what has been a momentous year for social housing in the North. She reflects on what we’ve achieved – both politically and in terms of our member offer – and looks forward to 2026.

This year has been one of the most significant for the social housing sector in the North. We’ve seen once-in-a-generation investment in social housing from the Government. At the NHC, we’ve been actively representing members’ views right at the very heart of Government, and working to support members to deliver.

We launched our new corporate plan with three key strategic priorities:

  • We move the dial on northern policy
  • We’re all about people (your people and our people)
  • We create value

Moving the dial on northern policy

Together, we’ve influenced national decisions in ways that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.  The social housing sector has received significant investment in recent months – including the £39bn commitment to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, with flexibility around regeneration and net additionality, and the 10-year rent settlement.

Mayors now have more local control, and more flexible funding rules now reflect the reality that “one size fits all” simply doesn’t work for the North. Thanks to the evidence you’ve shared and the work we’ve done collectively, long-standing asks have been delivered. Our Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) Patrick Murray has written a more detailed article on moving the dial, summarising the policy change we’ve seen and how we deliver that change.

The NHC team has worked tirelessly to make this happen—meeting ministers, organising site visits, and presenting detailed evidence that reflects the realities of the communities you serve.

Looking ahead, our newly launched Renew inquiry, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, will explore housing-led regeneration as a driver of growth and stronger communities. Our Call for Evidence is already underway, and we’re engaging with ministers to ensure regeneration in the North receives the support it deserves.

We’re all about people

Our second priority is simple but vital: we’re all about people—your people and our people. Over the past year, we’ve created spaces for collaboration and shared learning across virtually every landlord issue. From strategic leaders to frontline staff, tenants, and residents, we’ve held more than 110 events attended by over 1,000 colleagues. That’s more than two events every week, each designed to strengthen our collective impact.

We’ve also taken senior government officials across the North to see members’ work firsthand. These visits help decision-makers understand the challenges you face and the opportunities that exist to deliver for communities.

Supporting people also means investing in their future. Our Unlocking Success Bursary scheme continues to change lives, awarding £500 bursaries to support social housing residents with training and employment opportunities. We’ve partnered again with the GEM Programme to offer a free place to a tenant employed by an NHC member, to help them build a career in housing. And looking ahead, the new Edge Programme will address senior leadership succession and development needs—an issue critical to the sector’s long-term success.

Devolution is also creating new opportunities. Housing partnerships across the North are bringing together housing associations, local authorities, and combined authorities to tackle issues from skills to health. We’re proud to serve as secretariat to seven of these partnerships, strengthening pan-Northern collaboration and ensuring the right people are around the table to improve outcomes for communities.

We create value

Finally, our third priority: we create value. At the core of this is the income generated by our commercial team through NHC Procurement. Over the past five years, our reinvestment model has delivered well over £2.5 million directly back into policy and engagement work. This funding helps us keep membership fees low while offering free networks and events that benefit everyone.

So, when you work with us on procurement, you’re not just securing value for money—you’re enabling all this wider work to happen.

Looking forward

2025 has certainly been a busy year – and while I feel ready for the Christmas break – I look forward to bringing the momentum forward into 2026. We’ll continue to be there for members – bringing you together, representing your views and supporting you to deliver.

Our Renew inquiry on housing-led regeneration will be a big focus and we will work tirelessly to make sure no-one and no-where is left behind. We will continue to work with housing partnerships across the North and will do even more to bring the partnerships together – including with a new event in the summer! We will continue to support members with free events and briefings and resources when you need them most. Our procurement team will work to respond to the ever-changing delivery environment and will connect you with the suppliers that can offer the best solutions.

I hope everyone has some opportunity to relax over the festive break so we can all return refreshed and ready to go in 2026!

Moving the dial on Northern policy  

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NHC Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) Patrick Murray explains more about this corporate plan objective, including how we represent members, and the approach we take to working with the Government. He looks at how we’ve been moving the dial over the first 18 months of the Government and the momentous policy change we’re seen as a result.   

Changing Government policy is not easy. So what does “moving the dial” look like in practice? 

The first thing to say is it’s never one organisation. To have any chance of impact Government needs to hear the same thing from multiple places. We always work with and represent our members – social housing providers, local authorities, and Mayoral Combined Authorities – as well as working with other bodies such as the Northern Housing Partnerships and with national organisations where it’s appropriate.. We listen to resident’s voices too, as they are a powerful agent for change. In short, strength in numbers is always key to success. 

With a remit to speak on behalf of Northern cross-sector membership we focus our influencing work clearly on policy areas where there is a northern angle, it’s important to our members, and there’s a chance of success. By focusing strategically this means we can really get into the depth required to achieve change. 

For us at NHC over the last 18 months that’s meant a real focus on ensuring funding works in a way that supports delivery across the North. It is vital for Government to understand that monolithic national programmes will not deliver the impact they want if they are not set up to work across the multiple different housing markets there are in this country and have the flexibility to respond to the myriads of housing crises we have. When lobbying for the North, you’ve always got to be mindful how easily Whitehall and Westminster default to a London-centric view of the world, and how seductive the levers of centralised power appear to be (though they rarely work as intended in reality). 

Different Government stakeholders will need different things to help shift positions. That’s why at the NHC we talk about a twin-track approach. Politicians want to know how they can fulfil manifesto pledges and deliver for voters. It’s our role to show them how the social housing sector can support them to deliver their ambitions while inspiring them to go further with policies which will have a positive impact in the North. But we also need to focus on the depth of research, insight and detail needed to support civil servants to advise ministers on the best course of action, and shape how they implement policy.  

For example, we worked closely with the Mayoral Combined Authorities on the challenges around the Brownfield Housing Fund. Our in-depth research, Brownfield First showed we can build up to 320,000 homes on brownfield land in the North but the way funding was designed was holding us back. In particular we found the way Treasury’s Green Book rules were being implemented made it difficult to get homes built on brownfield sites. 

As the NHC’s Northern Housing Monitor has consistently shown, the North has more than its fair share of older, colder homes. Building on our track record including the ground-breaking Social Housing Tenant’s Jury, we brought together providers, local authorities, Mayoral Combined Authorities, and the supply chain to explore how we could deliver a new generation of good green jobs and tackle rising bills. Again, devolution of funding was a vital component to support partnerships, alongside longer-term funding cycles. 

Finally, the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. For years many areas of the North were locked out of the grant funding needed to build social rent. Stop-start programmes halted delivery. And regeneration was an afterthought at best, and a non-starter in truth. So our research on regeneration from earlier in the year was designed to set out the challenges around end of life stock in the North while demonstrating how by tackling this issue we could unlock more delivery. Working closely with the North’s Housing Partnerships was critical to get the granular data needed. 

This research all came together in our detailed Spending Review response, setting out what the North needed across multiple fronts. Backed by the North’s Housing Partnerships and based on extensive member engagement over the years, we were able to put forward a strong case for the North. 

But research alone doesn’t cut it. The right engagement with the right people is critical. We met with Ministers and put forward the case for the North at every opportunity including alongside national bodies.  

As ever though, the maxim of “show, don’t tell” proves most powerful. Over the first 9 months of the new Government we took all the key senior civil servants out across the North to see the issues on the ground. We saw new development, work on existing homes including retrofit, and regeneration in all its forms. They talked with members and residents about what was needed, engaging in Chatham House conversations which helped shape policy. We held bespoke roundtables and in-depth briefings on key research to support the civil service teams to design policy.  

In short, it’s a pincer movement. Ministers heard clearly what was needed from the NHC and our members, and from their civil servants. We worked closely with civil servants to equip them with insight and data, and to make sure they had seen the issues on the ground. This gave them the confidence to put forward the solutions that the sector needs to deliver. If the sector, civil servants, and politicians are all pushing in the same direction that’s when you have a chance of success. 

When we set out on this journey to influence the shape of the then new Government’s policy programme, we knew it wasn’t just about the money, but about how the money worked. 

The results are there to see, not least in the prospectus of the £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. Regeneration flexibilities retained and broadened with real changes to the technical detail on “net additionality” rules that will have a major impact for northern providers. A ten-year programme with social rent as the priority. 70% of the money available outside London, a record high. And a real role for Mayors to set the strategic direction and allow more flexible delivery locally.  

But also increased brownfield funding through the National Housing Delivery Fund, devolved to Mayors, and underpinned by significant changes to those Treasury value-for-money rules that have held us back for so long. We still await the Warm Homes Plan, but we know there will be more money for retrofitting our social housing, funding will be devolved in this Parliament, and funding windows will be longer than previous cycles.  

What’s more we were delighted to see the revised £5bn Pride in Place programme to improve places building on NHC Pride in Place research directly with communities from a couple of years ago. This showcased the power of resident voice to shape policy – but also that influencing Government policy is sometimes a long game. 

So what’s next? Renew, our inquiry into housing-led regeneration in the North backed by Homes for the North and Muse, will be our main focus over the next 18 months. Our Call for Evidence is out now – please do respond by 27th February 2026. We’ll be engaging widely with the sector including the North’s Housing Partnerships and undertaking a programme of resident engagement.  

As ever, the ability of the North to achieve real policy change rests on us all working together and speaking with one voice about what is needed.  

 

Indices of Deprivation 2025: What It Means for the North

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The publication of the English Indices of Deprivation (IoD) 2025 provides a detailed picture of deprivation across England. These indices measure relative disadvantage at a very local level, using seven domains: income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. Together, they offer a comprehensive view of the social and economic challenges facing communities.

The latest findings confirm what many of us already know: deprivation in parts of the North is both deep and persistent. While deprivation has increased slightly across all regions since 2004, the North continues to experience the highest concentrations of disadvantage.

Persistent Deprivation Across the North

The report highlights that some areas have remained among the most deprived nationally for two decades. These include parts of Liverpool, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Rochdale, and East Lancashire, where local neighbourhoods consistently rank in the top 1% most deprived in England. This persistence matters because it signals entrenched disadvantage that cannot be solved by short-term interventions. The latest figures show that 58% of the nation’s neighbourhood ranked in the top 10% for deprivation are in the North of England.

Regional Comparisons

The North East has the highest proportion of neighbourhoods in the most deprived decile nationally, with 32.1% of its Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) falling into this category. The North West follows closely at 29%, and Yorkshire and the Humber at 26.5%. By contrast, the South East and South West have less than 12% of their areas in the most deprived decile. London sits in the middle, with significant deprivation in inner boroughs but offset by more affluent areas.

This means that deprivation in the North is not only more widespread but also more concentrated, affecting large sections of communities and neighbourhoods rather than isolated pockets.

Domain-Specific Challenges

Income and employment deprivation remain the most pressing issues in the North, particularly in towns such as Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, and Blackpool. Health deprivation is also severe, with Liverpool and Blackpool ranking among the worst nationally for health outcomes. Educational attainment continues to lag behind in places like Middlesbrough and Bradford, while crime rates are disproportionately high in urban centres such as Manchester and Middlesbrough.

These patterns show that deprivation is multi-dimensional. Poor housing conditions, low incomes, and poor health outcomes reinforce each other, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without coordinated action.

Housing and Living Environment in the North

The IMD 2025 shows that housing and living environment deprivation is a significant challenge across the North of England. These domains together account for 18.6% of the overall IMD score, with Barriers to Housing and Services weighted at 9.3% and Living Environment Deprivation also at 9.3%. More than 40% of the neighbourhoods ranked in the most deprived decile for living environment nationally are in the North, and rural areas in North Yorkshire and the North East record some of the highest scores for barriers to housing and services due to long distances to GPs, schools, and shops. Urban centres such as Liverpool, Manchester, and Bradford rank poorly for housing quality, reflecting older housing stock and higher rates of homes without central heating, while coastal towns like Blackpool and Hartlepool face severe issues linked to substandard housing and environmental hazards. These patterns underline the link between poor housing, health outcomes, and economic disadvantage, making housing quality and accessibility critical priorities for regeneration and policy intervention.

Change Over Time

Although all regions have seen slight increases in deprivation since 2004, the North remains disproportionately affected. Between 2019 and 2025, around 28–30% of neighbourhoods in the North East and North West moved into a more deprived decile, while only a small proportion improved. Across England, 51% of areas stayed in the same decile, underlining the persistence of disadvantage. London saw the largest improvement, with 30% of its areas moving to a less deprived decile, but this is not the case for the North.

In Conclusion

The IMDs show the challenge of persistent deprivation, including in many of the areas our members work in. They also highlight the importance of both housing supply and housing quality in tackling disadvantage. Government policy, including recent commitments to improve housing standards and increase supply, will hopefully begin to address these issues. However, the need for comprehensive regeneration remains urgent, as many communities continue to experience entrenched deprivation that short-term measures alone cannot resolve.

Two thirds of new Brownfield Housing Fund allocated to the North

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The Government has announced an additional £150 million for the Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) to accelerate regeneration of derelict and underused land across England. This new round of funding is designed to unlock stalled sites and deliver new homes, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to a “brownfield-first” approach. Bidding for the new funding will open in February 2026.

The NHC has consistently highlighted the importance of brownfield development in the North, with our Brownfield First report finding there is capacity for 320,000 new homes on brownfield land in the North. We welcome the news that 69% of the fund has been allocated to northern Combined Authorities reflecting the opportunity to develop derelict and unused sites in the North.  

In our research we argued that benefit cost ratios used to access funding bids were disadvantaging areas with lower land values, which disproportionally impacted the North. The Government has since updated its Green Book spending guidance. This should address the issue and mean more brownfield sites can be developed in economically deprived areas – potentially transforming these communities.  

Brownfield Housing Fund 2025/26 settlement – subregional break down : 

Strategic Authority   BHF allocation 
West Midlands  £26,114,324 
Greater Manchester  £25,831,336 
West Yorkshire  £21,043,990 
East Midlands  £19,725,709 
North East  £17,629,948 
Liverpool City Region  £13,895,370 
South Yorkshire  £12,326,576 
York & North Yorkshire  £7,309,794 
Tees Valley   £6,122,946 
North  £104,159,960 
Total  £150,000,000 

This builds on previous rounds of the BHF worth a total of £600 million since 2020.  

Alongside this, the Government published indicative spends for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities as part of the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. These are separate from the Brownfield Housing Fund, but they complement brownfield delivery by providing additional resources for housing development and regeneration. Regional indicative spends include: 

  • Greater Manchester: £1.8 billion 
  • West Midlands: £1.7 billion
  • North East: £1.1 billion 
  • West Yorkshire: £1 billion 
  • Liverpool City Region & South Yorkshire: £700 million each 

Contracts for BHF projects must be signed by March 2026, with housing starts expected by 2028/29. MHCLG have requested that Registered Providers now be prepare their pipeline of brownfield sites so they can engage with Strategic Authorities to secure inclusion in regional bids and monitor guidance for detailed bidding criteria in early 2026. 

The Government’s message to the sector is clear:
“Go big, go bold, go build – this funding is about transforming derelict land into thriving communities.” – Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 

Working together to improve standards in the Private Rented Sector

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The NHC held a Private Rented Sector (PRS) Workshop as part of its Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSA) Network. 

Improving standards in the PRS is a political priority for Mayors across the North and the Renters’ Rights Act will provide local authorities with new responsibilities and enhanced enforcement powers. In this context, the session provided an opportunity to explore how MSA’s can play a strategic role in supporting their local authority partners to raise standards, coordinate enforcement, and drive innovation across the PRS. The workshop took place before last week’s announcement that many elements of the Renter’s Right’s Act will come in force from 1st May 2026, but this news has made it all the more relevant. 

The workshop brought together colleagues from mayoral and local authorities alongside academics and policy experts. 

Thank you to our contributors:

Alice Earley – Research Associate, UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence: Alice shared her research, providing a national overview of the PRS landscape, highlighting key trends, challenges, and opportunities for local and regional action. 

John Bibby – Principle Housing Strategy (Private Rented Sector), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA): John outlined GMCA’s strategic approach to improving the private rented sector, including how the city-region is working to support local enforcement and raise standards.

Claire Vibert – Network and Learning Manager, Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter Implementation Unit, TDS: Claire introduced the Greater Manchester Good Landlord Charter and shared how it is being implemented as a tool to drive up standards and promote responsible landlord behaviour. 

Malcolm Ramsay – Project Manager for Let Zero, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA): Malcolm presented on SYMCA’s Let Zero, a good practice case study focused on improving energy efficiency,  reducing emissions, and improving resident wellbeing in the PRS. 

We are planning further sessions focusing on the PRS. Please contact Engagement & Place Officer Olivia Bannerman for more information: Olivia.bannerman@northern-consortium.org.uk

People-Centred Retrofit for Social Housing Webinar with Carbon Coop

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This November, we will be co-hosting an online event in partnership with Carbon Coop, looking into ‘People-Centred Retrofit for Social Housing’. This forms part of Carbon Coop’s Retrofit for All initiative, which has been designed with tenants, housing providers and delivery partners, to make retrofit more inclusive, effective and trusted.

People-Centred Retrofit for Social Housing: Tools, Insights & Practice Webinar
When: 12.30-13.30, Thursday 27 November 2025
Tickets: Please sign up through Eventbrite here.

At the webinar, you will hear how people-centred retrofit is being put into practice, with insights from social landlords based in the North, as well as hearing about recent research into the topic.

In addition, the session will also look at new resources that have been developed by Carbon Coop to make it easier to introduce a people-centred approach to retrofit at your organisation.

You can find more information about the event here.

From ambition to delivery – the Northern Housing Summit

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Last week’s Northern Housing Summit brought together senior housing leaders from across the North. Our Chief Executive Tracy Harrison opened proceedings and set the scene for the day – saying that the focus is now moving from ambition to delivery. She outlined how the NHC has been working with the Government to move the dial on northern housing policy and launched the Call for Evidence for our inquiry about housing-led regeneration, Renew. 

Up next was Leeds City Council Chief Executive Ed Whiting OBE who welcomed us to Leeds and shared how housing plays an important role in the Leeds Vision. He was followed by Selvin Brown MBE, from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, who updated the audience on warm homes funding, finishing with a poignant tenant video which reminded everyone that warm homes really do improve lives. 

A panel discussion about “Beyond 1.5m homes: Once in a (re)generation?” with Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government’s Cathy Francis, Sheffield City Council’s James Clark, our Patrick Murray, Homes England Interim Chair Pat Richie and Karbon Homes’ Paul Fiddaman was next on the agenda. This looked at balancing long-term strategy with delivering immediate results. Panellists spoke about how regeneration is an integral part of delivering the homes communities need, especially in light of the recent Social and Affordable Homes Programme prospectus which offers more flexibility around net additionality requirements. 

A busy morning was rounded off with professional practice sessions around climate resilience, the Renters Rights act, regulation and the customer journey and the Green Book. Space was at a premium in the session on the Green Book which included Home England’s Chief Economist Andy Wallis. The Government recently reviewed it’s Green Book spending guidance following the NHC and others in the sector highlighting that rules, and the way they were being applied, was disadvantaging the North. 

In the afternoon the focus was on devolution. There was talk of a ‘devolution revolution’ and ‘devo delight’, as the North leads the way with devolved government. The social housing sector is well connected to this through housing partnerships, that cover the majority of the North. 

We were pleased to welcome Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin who was interviewed by NHC Chair Charlie about ‘Housing’s role in the Great North.’ She passionately put forward the case for collaborating to improve people’s lives – with housing at the heart of this. Tracy and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) work closely with the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership to deliver new social housing and warmer homes – with this set to ramp up when WYCA’s integrated settlement begins next April. 

Devolution was also discussed earlier in the afternoon with a panel session on ‘Mission Possible: Devolution and Better Places’. We heard from NHC Vice Chair Jane Everton CBE, Yorkshire Housing’s Nick Atkin, Greater Manchester Combined Authorities Warren Heppolette and Calderdale Council’s Robin Tuddenham about the impact devolution is having on communities, and how we can go further in the future.

We also had a series of professional practice sessions on housing, health and technology, building stronger communities and the temporary accommodation crisis in the North.

Thank you to all the event sponsors for making our Summit happen, and to all our speakers and delegates for being part of the day!  

Have your say – contribute to renewed insight about housing-led regeneration in the North

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We’ve opened a Call for Evidence to gather vital insight into the need for housing-led regeneration in the North. At the Northern Housing Summit, our Chief Executive Tracy Harrison urged northern social housing providers and other stakeholders to help us build a case to Government that demonstrates how housing-led regeneration delivers lasting benefits for residents and communities.

The findings will be used to understand the scale of the need for housing-led regeneration and what can be done to address this need now, in light of new Government investment into building new homes, unlocking brownfield land, strengthening communities, and retrofitting existing homes. The evidence gathered will help create practical recommendations that can shape Government policy and support social housing providers, Mayors and local government to deliver more growth and stronger communities.

The Call for Evidence is part of Renew, an inquiry to explore housing-led regeneration’s role in delivering growth, tackling the housing crisis, and strengthening communities across the North. Renew is supported by Homes for the North and Muse.

Renew will be chaired by Lord Best OBE DL, an independent crossbench Member of the House of Lords with a special interest in housing issues.

Lord Best OBE DL said:

“I am really pleased to be chairing Renew not only because the issue of regeneration in our Northern regions is of huge significance, but also because I know the Northern Housing Consortium will do a really good job in assembling the evidence and making the case for change.

“The powerful voice of the NHC for the Northern regions is badly needed to make the case for housing-led regeneration, particularly for the housing stock that is now reaching the end of its useful life.

“I believe Renew could make a real difference.”

Renew is gaining momentum with the launch of the Call for Evidence following the first meeting of the Westminster Group. This group of parliamentarians will hear evidence and testimonials first hand, as well as offering insight and guidance. There is also a project advisory group made up of housing association chief executives, local and regional government regeneration specialists, policy experts and academics, who will help shape the inquiry and be ambassadors.

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:

“We’re pleased the Government has prioritised tackling the housing crisis, with groundbreaking investment in social housing. The issues affecting communities are different in different places, and in many areas of the North housing-led regeneration should sit alongside new housing supply and support to improve existing homes. Renew will bring together northern social housing providers, the Government, politicians, residents and other stakeholders to make sure everyone has access to a safe and warm home in a place they’re proud of.

“Alongside delivering on current transformative change, we must build an evidence base looking at how we can go even further to drive growth and strengthen communities. I urge as many stakeholders as possible to respond to the Call for Evidence so we can develop the evidence base we need to secure further policy changes and funding to unlock housing-led regeneration. With a track record of delivery and a strong collective voice we can see even more positive change for Northern communities.”

Paul Fiddaman, Deputy Chair of Homes for the North, said:

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to tackle the housing crisis and boost the supply of affordable homes. The North of England faces a distinct set of housing challenges, and our research shows that regeneration can make a significant contribution to housing supply in the region. Regeneration is about more than just supply, however; it can help to build stronger communities and act as a catalyst for growth.

“Therefore, we were pleased to see the positive changes around additionality in the new Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which will help to create the conditions for Renew to have the most impact. Homes for the North is delighted to support this inquiry and contribute to this important conversation around how we can unlock the transformative potential of regeneration in the North.”

Phil Mayall, Managing Director at Muse, said:

“As the Government continues to push ahead with its housing ambitions, the launch of this inquiry and call for evidence is a vital step for ensuring that housing-led regeneration in the North of England is as impactful as possible.

“At Muse we are delighted to be partners on this. We recognise that only by working together can we combat the housing crisis and deliver real, meaningful, change to communities across the North.

“As part of this process we will draw on our decades of placemaking experience and offer meaningful insight into how we have worked in partnership to deliver transformative places across the northern region.”

The Renew Call for Evidence will:

  • Explore what we mean by housing-led regeneration, and how we capture the benefits of regeneration activity.
  • Establish the need for housing-led regeneration in the North and how best to communicate this need.
  • Understand what can be delivered within the Government’s current policy programme.
  • Identify levers, both national policy and as part of the devolution agenda, we believe will allow the North to go further.

Northern social housing providers, Mayoral Combined Authorities, local authorities, the Government, politicians, residents and other stakeholders who want to make sure everyone has access to a safe and warm home in a place they’re proud of are invited to respond.

The Call to Evidence is open until 27th February. To find out further information or to submit a response visit www.renew.northern-consortium.org.uk.