In the week where Andy Burnham MP made his first major leadership speech at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, housing partnerships from across the North came together for the NHC’s first Housing Partnerships Northern Conference to share learning and demonstrate how partnership working is delivering at scale. 

On Thursday 2nd July, NHC Chief Executive, Tracy Harrison opened the conference, setting out the progress made by partnerships, highlighting that they are now an established part of the housing system. She emphasised the importance of the role of housing partnerships in delivering regeneration and devolution across their regions. 

In her key remarks she highlighted how housing partnerships have involved from an innovative concept to a vital mechanism to help us move faster, align investment, solve problems collectively and ensure housing has a stronger voice in wider discussions around growth, health, skills, transport, net zero and regeneration. Tracy also emphasised the North has led the way in developing housing partnerships, noting that housing partnerships are increasingly being viewed as an example of effective collaboration by organisations and regions outside the North. 

She reflected: “At the Northern Housing Consortium, we’re proud champions of devolution because decisions are almost always better when they’re made by people who know their places, understand their communities and have real skin in the game…  

Housing Partnerships are a practical way of getting things done.  

They help us move faster, align investment, solve problems collectively and make sure housing has a stronger voice in wider conversations about growth, health, skills, transport, net zero and regeneration.” (full speech can be found here) 

Devolution was a consistent focus throughout the conference. Speakers highlighted the importance of a housing-led, place-based approach, aligning housing with infrastructure, transport and wider priorities to maximise funding. Strong governance and integrated settlements were identified as key to making this work in practice.  

Homes England reinforced the role of housing partnerships in delivery, highlighting their importance in building pipelines of new homes and supporting strategic place partnerships.  

Sessions also explored the role of local authorities within partnerships, including the challenges of balancing responsibilities as landlords and place-shapers. Partnerships were identified as a mechanism for coordinating activity across areas and enabling a more strategic approach to place.  

Workshops focused on delivery. In the North East, partners are already seeing the benefits of joint procurement, including cost savings, more efficient use of funding and the creation of local employment opportunities. Delegates identified leadership alignment, shared values and executive buy-in as critical to successful collaboration.  

Attendees also reflected on how to strengthen influence locally. Aligning with mayoral priorities and demonstrating delivery were seen as essential to building trust, with partnerships using their scale and collective voice to engage effectively.  

Skills and workforce pressures were a key issue, with significant vacancies across the construction sector. Partnerships are working with colleges and training providers to develop targeted pathways into employment, including new training academies and collaboration with further education.  

A key theme that came out strongly throughout the day was the importance of housing-led-regeneration and the work of the Renew inquiry as a strong example of what housing partnerships can achieve collectively. Referencing the inquiry in her key note speech, Tracy highlighted how the inquiry received evidence and insights from organisations responsible for around 1 million of the North’s 1.4 million social homes and more than 160 individual regeneration schemes and sites. The strength of this evidence coming from the willingness of housing partnerships, members and partners across the North to contribute their knowledge, expertise and experience.

The Renew report found that housing-led regeneration can unlock at least 500,000 good quality homes across the North of England, and is based on the evidence of  

The conference also highlighted the wider role of housing partnerships, including supporting health, preventing homelessness and working with communities. Examples included integrating housing into health systems, scaling up homelessness prevention approaches and responding to local challenges through long-term community engagement.  

Overall, the Housing Partnerships Northern Conference demonstrated the growing role of partnerships in coordinating delivery, influencing policy and responding collectively to shared challenges across the North. 

Tracy challenged delegates to continue building on the progress made so far:  

“The North has led the way so far. My challenge to all of us is simple. Let’s keep leading.” 

Andy Burham MP was today appointed as Prime Minister, the seventh Prime Minister in ten years.  

Mr Burham has promised to ‘do things differently’ and to take a more collaborative approach to politics. He has pledged to launch a new 10-year plan for Britian later this year, though he was keen to stress he will also make changes from the start, including ending rough sleeping and building more council houses.  

During his leadership campaign, he reiterated his support for devolution and spoke about the importance of regeneration.  

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said:  

“We look forward to working with the new Prime Minister to give hope back to forgotten places. A good quality, affordable home is one of life’s essentials. Our Renew inquiry has found that housing-led regeneration can unlock at least 500,000 good quality homes across the North of England. It can bring hope by making sure more people have a great place to live, improving and residents’ health and wellbeing, and generating jobs. Housing-led regeneration – reviving struggling high streets with new homes, developing forgotten brownfield land, and renewing and redeveloping homes that no longer meet the needs of communities – can help bring growth to every postcode.  

“The new Prime Minister has acknowledged the importance of regeneration, so we hope he will seize the moment to build on investment that the Government has already made in housing, with long-term devolved regeneration funding, and support to build local capacity and expertise. Our policy recommendations are about ensuring that regeneration is viable and achievable across the North, which has diverse needs and challenges beyond our cities. As Lara Joyce, Secretary of Gleadless Resident’s Association said, we need “to make it safe to feel hope again”. 

“Andy Burnham is a big backer of devolution, and we know he wants to build on the success we have already seen in the North. In areas where devolution has progressed further, social housing providers and other partners have collaborated and have had real success scaling up what works for communities so more people and places benefit.”  

Many of our members in Greater Manchester have worked closely with Andy Burham during his time as Mayor. Northern Housing Consortium Chair, Chief Executive of MSV Housing, and Chair of Greater Manchester Housing Providers Charlie Norman said:

“It has been great working with Andy Burham in Greater Manchester for the last 9 years, collaborating on a place first and housing first agenda, with people at its heart.” 

The far-reaching role of housing-led regeneration, and the Renew inquiry, and partnership working have been big talking points at the Great Northern Theatre 26.

The importance of housing-led regeneration shone through in the morning. The day opened with a speech from Lord Best who set out how the continued focus on new homes was crowding out regeneration, despite a clear need. However, he was optimistic that the tide was turning, and the Renew inquiry, which he chairs, is a big part of this.

Next up was Patrick Murray, NHC Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) who shared the latest findings from Renew inquiry report ‘Unlocking over 500,000 good quality homes in the North’. He highlighted how housing-led regen is critical to driving growth, and invaluable in making sure smaller towns and places are not left behind. He talked about devolution and how we are already seeing benefits of a more place-based approach. However, he said there is a structural viability gap in the North and this can only be overcome with the right government support.

The next session, chaired by Inside Housing Editor Martin Hillditch, featured a range of perspectives on why regeneration at scale is important. Rachel Dennis Chief Executive, Incommunities said it was vital to address the full picture.  In Bradford, where Incommunities is based, estate regeneration needs greater support to avoid ‘a doughnut of deprivation’ around the city centre. John Johnson Chief Executive, Bernicia Group talked about devolution being a potential gamechanger, but that central government needed to fully trust devolved authorities. Lara Joyce Secretary of the Gleadless Valley Resident Association shared how regeneration gives residents hope but that promises must be kept to avoid breaking residents’ trust. Finally, Phil Mayall Managing Director of Muse talked about why homes are an essential part of creating places people can thrive. However, he said viability challenges and the skills gap were holding things back.

The final session of the morning, chaired by Claire Warren, Chief Executive, Pickering and Ferens Homes covered community-led renewal. The panellists Cedric Boston, Group Chief Executive, Unity Homes and Enterprise, Louise Davies, Executive Director of Communities and Regeneration, Cobalt Housing, Darren Sterling, Assistant Director Strategy and Community Regeneration, Newcastle City Council  and Kemoy Walker, youth ambassador at  MSV Housing, were all clear that to really understand what residents want housing providers need to embed themselves in communities. Housing colleagues should go to where the residents are, for example youth clubs or community events.

In the afternoon the focus shifted onto devolution and partnership working. To avoid a post-lunch slump proceedings started with an illuminating conversion between Inside Housing Martin Hilditch and designer Wayne Hemmingway, who famously spoke out against the ‘Wimpyfication of Britain’. The chat covered housing design, the effects of high land values and the role of culture in driving regeneration.

Up next was a panel session about ‘Integrated settlements: Building connected systems for long-term growth’, chaired by Tracy Harrsion, with Ruth Davison Interim Director of Environment and Place, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Ed Ferrari, Research Director, Mosidi, and Tom Hinchcliffe Director of Housing First, Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The panel agreed that we’ve come a long way with devolution, and that integrated settlements are helping deliver a more joined up approach to places. Importantly the discussion focused on the democratic mandate of Mayors and how more accountability should flow to local communities rather than central Government.

This was followed by a panel session on effective partnerships chaired by NHC Deputy Chief Executive James Ealey. Marc Edwards, Executive Director of Property at Gentoo, spoke about the North East Housing Partnership’s collaborative planned investment partnership which is helping North East housing providers save millions on the installation of new kitchens and create local employment opportunities. Shazia Bashir, Partner, Winckworth Sherwood, shared insights on partnerships from a legal perspective. Robin Tuddenham, Chief Executive, Calderdale Council, spoke about the need for local authorities to step forward and take a leading role in partnerships, and to get the balance right between structure and collaboration. Sasha Deepwell, Chief Executive, Irwell Valley Homes shared her experience of being part of Greater Manchester Housing Providers, the longest established housing partnership, and the huge impact it is having.

The afternoon was rounded off with a positive discussion, chaired by Tracy Harrison, about the northern offer and what we’ll deliver together. Nick Atkin, Yorkshire Housing Chief Executive, stressed that the social housing sector has a once a generation opportunity to make a difference and that we’re ready to step up. Tom Bridges Executive Regional Director (North East, Yorkshire & Humber), Homes England spoke about Homes England’s increased focus on placemaking and the opportunities available through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and the National Housing Bank. Alison Dean Chief Executive Officer, Great Places felt optimistic, sharing examples of work happening in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire, including bringing disused brownfield land back into use and renewing estates to make sure everyone has access to a good home.

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.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP spoke at the launch of the first Renew research report ‘Unlocking over 500,000 good quality homes in the North’.   

The event took place in Westminster, and there was a strong turnout of parliamentarians. The Minister welcomed the new report and reflected on the importance of regeneration. He listened to all the speakers and engaged with guests.

Other speakers included Andrew Cooper MP, who hosted the event and explained why good quality housing is so important. Lord Best OBE DL shared why he is chairing Renew and the importance of addressing poor quality homes alongside increasing new supply.   

Our Chief Executive Tracy Harrison gave an overview of the report, highlighting the opportunity to boost supply of new homes in the North, kickstart economic growth and create thriving communities though housing led regeneration. She highlighted that housing providers in the North faced significant barriers, and only with support to overcome viability issues can the true potential of housing-led regeneration be unlocked.  

Chief Executive of MSV housing and NHC Chair, Charlie Norman, gave a member’s perspective and drawing on her experience in Greater Manchester, highlighted how devolution can support regeneration.  Secretary of the Gleadless Valley Residents Association Lara Joyce shared how regeneration can bring a sense of hope to residents, and why it’s important to deliver on promises to keep local people’s trust. She also talked about the importance of involving residents in shaping plans for their community.  

What was clear from the event – and the report – is that housing-led regeneration is more than bricks and mortar and balance sheets. It is change for communities that need it most, and in Lara’s words, it’s about it feeling safe to feel hope.

The NHC took part in UKREiiF, the UK’s real estate and infrastructure forum, promoting the role of housing partnerships and regeneration in driving northern growth.  

We started off with a panel session Housing Partnerships: Unlocking Growth Across the North, chaired by our head of housing partnerships Satty Rai with housing partnership chairs Charlie Norman, John Jonson, Nick Atkin and Rachel Dennis.  

The session highlighted the breadth of offer from housing partnerships, with examples of working to together to create jobs and upskill communities, such as a skills academy in the North East, alongside focus on housing and regeneration. The links between housing and transport, including how new transport links can unlock new homes and regeneration were discussed. There was also reflection on how the different areas are at different stages in the devolution journey. Six years ago in Yorkshire there was no devolution, whereas in Manchester devolution is well established. There is a tripartite agreement between health, housing and the combined authority, and housing is embedded at the heart of the mayor’s ten-year strategy.  

NHC Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) Patrick Murray was on the panel for L&Q’s ‘10 Years of Good Growth in Greater Manchester’ session. Patrick highlighted how devolution and partnerships are critical to growth in the North. He gave an update on Renew, our inquiry which explored how housing-led regeneration can enable the housing sector in the North to do even more to deliver growth, help tackle the housing crisis, and create thriving communities across the North.  

A big thank you to Yorkshire Housing for hosting our member roundtable with the National Housing Bank and Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. It was useful discussion focusing on how we can scale up delivery of new homes and how the bank can work with combined authorities and housing partnerships in a place-based way.