Housing and Regeneration Research and Policy
We've been delighted that our SHMA work has been getting Inspectors' approval at LDF Inquiries, from the first at Hambleton to a recent one at Wakefield, where a 30% affordable housing policy was accepted. We are currently working with Harrogate to build the evidence to support a policy for a high level of affordable provision. We've recently been appointed to do the SHMA's for both the new Cheshire West and East LA's, and to be doing their parallel Economic Viability Studies.
Building on this, we continue to work on Affordable housing policy and are about to launch an on-line affordable housing guide for Yorkshire and Humber, with lots of good practice and practical advice. The impact of the credit crunch is making this all harder and we've worked through the probable viability implications with several LA's.
Just to underline that we do a wide range of research, we have recently
- Brought together an overview of ALL housing investment, public and private, in the NE region for 2007-8 and plans for 2008-9, and an analysis at LA level. Not done before, to our knowledge
- Prepared a report on the condition of private sector housing in the South West region (just for a change!)
- Undertaken 2 research studies into empty property options based around the regional policies to encourage reuse as well as build new affordable housing
- Carried out in depth interviews with potential house purchasers in Newcastle, using an IFA to assess in detail their options and the potential value of intermediate housing, or other financial options. Perhaps not surprisingly, half the interviewees were found to have unrealistic aspirations!
Meanwhile, of course we continue to develop housing and regeneration strategies, learning to work with the newly emerging regional context. A series of Think pieces for One North East, about the issues for housing within Integrated Regional Plans kicked this off, backed up by our series o fGuides for IDeA on the LA Strategic Housing Role. We are working on sub-regional Strategy for Lancashire and integrating housing with the SCS for Tameside.
If you would like more details of any of the above please contact David Cumberland or Gaynor Asquith.