November 2025

The NHC’s inquiry on housing-led regeneration, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, is gathering pace with the Call for Evidence set to launch at the Northern Housing Summit, and meetings with advisory groups happening now.

Lord Best OBE DL will chair the inquiry and its advisory group, who met for the first time this week. The advisory group is made up of a mix of housing association chief executives, local and regional government regeneration specialists, policy experts and academics.

At the first meeting group members fed back on the overarching aims of the inquiry and discussed the Call for Evidence. Director of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University Ed Ferrari updated the group about the research he is doing which will set the scene for the project and analyse the evolving context of regeneration in the North. The work will set out the longstanding challenges and concerns the inquiry will grapple with, as well as the emerging importance of devolution, sustainability, and community cohesion and belonging.

This followed an NHC member roundtable with senior officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. The meeting was used to discuss and improve knowledge of the northern-specific challenge of regeneration as well as to explore how housing led regeneration can contribute to the national drive for growth and stronger communities.   Insight from the meeting will be used as part of the inquiry’s commitment to identifying how the Northern social housing sector can play a role in the Government’s policy programme in this Parliament.

Next week, the inquiry Westminster Group will meet for the first time. Over the course of the inquiry they will have quarterly meetings to hear evidence and testimonials first hand, as well as offer insight and guidance. 

The Northen Housing Summit on 12th November will provide the stage for the launch of the inquiry Call for Evidence, which help capture the views of the social housing sector in the North. The Summit will also include a session “Beyond 1.5m homes: Once in a (re)generation?” where MHCLG’s Director for New Towns, Infrastructure and Housing Delivery Cathy Francis, Sheffield City Council Director of Housing Services James Clark, NHC Executive Director of Policy and External Relations Patrick Murray, Onward Chief Executive and Chair of Homes for North Bronwen Rapley, and Interim Chair of Homes England Pat Richie will discuss the balance between building new homes, and regenerating the North’s communities, and how the two agendas can reinforce each other.

You can find more and book your place the Northern Housing Summit here.

If you would like to find out more about the regeneration inquiry please contact Senior Engagement Manager (Devolution and Place Lead) Liam Gregson.

(l to r): Bronwen Rapley, Chair, Homes for the North & Chief Executive, Onward Homes; Andrew Cooper, MP for Mid Cheshire; Kirith Entwistle, MP for Bolton North East; Patrick Murray, Executive Director of Policy and External Relations, Northern Housing Consortium

The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) and Homes for the North (H4N) welcomed senior housing leaders, politicians and national policy voices to their Labour Party Conference evening reception at Plus Dane in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock.

The event, which drew a strong attendance from across the sector and Parliament, provided a chance to reflect on progress made in this Parliament and to look ahead at how the North can lead the way in delivering the Government’s housing ambitions. With £39 billion committed over the next decade for social and affordable homes, discussion focused on how collaboration between housing providers, local government and national policymakers will be vital to turning ambition into delivery.

We highlighted our new parliamentary inquiry, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, which will explore regeneration’s role in tackling the housing crisis, delivering growth and strengthening communities. NHC Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs Patrick Murray announced that Lord Best OBE DL will chair the inquiry’s Westminster Group, which will hear evidence and community testimonials first hand, as well as offering insight and guidance.

Speeches were given by:

Bronwen Rapley, Chair, Homes for the North & Chief Executive, Onward Homes
Patrick Murray, Executive Director of Policy and External Relations, Northern Housing Consortium
Andrew Cooper, MP for Mid Cheshire
Kirith Entwistle, MP for Bolton North East

Bronwen Rapley, Chair of Homes for the North, said:

“This event showed the energy, commitment and expertise across our sector. Together, we know regeneration can not only provide the homes people need, but also revitalise communities, support inclusive growth and help the North realise its full potential.”

Patrick Murray, Executive Director of Policy and External Relations at the Northern Housing Consortium, said:

“The Government has set bold ambitions for housing and the North is ready to deliver. The housing crisis plays out differently in the North. In many areas housing-led regeneration needs to sit alongside new housing supply and support to improve existing homes to meet the needs of communities.

“The inquiry aims to build on the Government’s transformational £39bn investment in new social housing and their £5bn Pride in Place programme. It will bring together social housing providers, local and regional government, parliamentarians, residents, academics and other sector bodies. I’m really pleased that Lord Best will chair the Westminster Group – the knowledge and experience he will bring to the inquiry will be invaluable. Through the inquiry we want to make sure no one and nowhere is left behind”

The first meeting of the Westminster Group will take place on 3rd November and the inquiry’s Call to Evidence will be launched at the Northern Housing Summit on 12th November.

Regeneration inquiry moves forward with Lord Best OBE DL as Chair

Northern social housing event puts housing and regeneration at the heart of the national growth agenda