Regeneration inquiry moves forward with Lord Best OBE DL as Chair 

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.  

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

(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. 

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NHC event puts regeneration centre stage in Parliament

The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) hosted a parliamentary event which brought MPs, NHC members and other stakeholders together. They discussed the need for housing-led regeneration to make sure northern communities can live in safe, affordable homes in places they are proud of.

The event followed recent government housing announcements that have significantly increased investment in affordable housing and provided much-needed long-term funding certainty and clarity around legislation. Regeneration has also featured in the announcements, with confirmation about flexibility in the Social and Affordable Homes Programme for replacement homes. It has also been put forward as a key deliverable in integrated settlements, and the Local Growth Plan is set to support Mayors to boost community-led regeneration.

The NHC plans to launch an inquiry Where Next for Housing-Led Regeneration in the North, supported by Homes for the North and Muse, later in the year to define housing-led regeneration’s role in tackling the housing crisis, delivering growth and building stronger communities.  It will look at how the social housing sector can bring maximum benefits to communities through regeneration with current government support and explore how to go even further in the future to meet the needs of the North.

Northern Housing Consortium Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said: “The outcome of the spending review and the recent housing announcements are milestone moments for the social housing sector in the North, which will drive real change. To effectively tackle the housing crisis in the North, housing-led regeneration must sit alongside new housing supply and support to improve existing homes.

“Our research has consistently shown that the North is disproportionally affected by low quality homes with over one million non-decent homes in the North. The problem is most acute in the private rented sector with 27 per cent of homes not meeting current Decent Homes Standards.  We’ve also found that there are 126,000 social housing homes in the North reaching the end of their serviceable life. These issues must be addressed if we want to make sure everyone has access to a safe and warm home they can afford.

“The right foundations are in place for the North to hit the ground running. We’re leading the way with devolution, and housing partnerships are driving collaboration. Through our Inquiry, we want to work with parliamentarians, members, residents and other stakeholders to maximise the benefits of regeneration for communities in the North.”

Speakers at the event included Lord Best OBE, DL who set the scene about why housing-led regeneration is a priority for the North and Liz Twist MP and Andrew Cooper MP gave parliamentarians perspectives on regeneration. Onward Chief Executive and Chair of Homes for North, Bronwen Rapley, highlighted why regeneration is a priority for Homes for the North. Managing Director of Muse, Phil Mayall, spoke about regeneration from a commercial view point and his experience of transforming places. Chief Executive of believe housing Alan Smith shared insight about regeneration projects and Chief Executive of Incommunities and Chair of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership Rachael Dennis talked about regeneration and devolution from a housing partnership perspective.

Bronwen Rapley, Chair of Homes for the North, said: “The Government has set out a transformative vision to deliver the biggest boost to housebuilding in generations. Regeneration has a critical role to play in helping to unlock the delivery of more and better homes. Our research shows that regeneration across the North could support the creation of 305,000 homes, equivalent to 4.3 years of housing supply.

“The North faces a particular set of challenges, from a lack of housing to contaminated sites and ageing homes, that are holding back regeneration. We now have an opportunity to work with the Government to help shape delivery mechanisms that can address some of these barriers. Whilst there are challenges, the potential of regeneration is even greater.

“This inquiry comes at a critical moment and we look forward to contributing to this vital and timely conversation about the role that regeneration has to play in unlocking growth and revitalising communities.”

Phil Mayall, Managing Director at Muse, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the NHC and Homes for the North on this important inquiry. Against the backdrop of the government’s positive agenda for the industry and the tools which have already been provided to us, we’re at a real moment in time where we can go even further in delivering meaningful change in the North of England.

“Drawing on our decades of experience as placemakers, we’re looking forward to sharing our case studies, lessons, and learnings. With a growing focus also on promoting partnerships as a means to further transform communities, we are excited to offer an insight into how we have been working in partnership with the public and private sector, including through ECF, our partnership with L&G and Homes England, and our plans for the future through Habiko, with PIC and Homes England.”

Further information about the need for regeneration in the North can be found in the NHC’s annual state of the region report the Northern Housing Monitor. The NHC conducted member research ‘Understanding the Need for Regeneration in the North’, which can be found here.

This event supported by Homes for the North and Muse and powered by the NHC’s commercial arm NHC Procurement.

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