Housing

Thursday March 11th 2010, Grosvenor Hotel, 09:15 - 16:00

The Next Generation of Housing: Affordability, Flexibility and Choice

"I am launching a second round of funding for councils that are ready to help build the new affordable rented homes we need in this country. And before Christmas I aim to give the go ahead to a £180 million programme to build an extra 1,200 council homes.”

Rt Hon John Healey MP, Minister of State, Housing and Planning, Communities and Local Government, September 2009

Overview

With the launch of the Government’s Building Britain's Future plan (June 2009), the Prime Minister announced £1.5 billion in housing investment.

The Housing Pledge places councils centre-stage, building more homes more quickly while creating thousands of jobs in the construction industry. Changes to the rules for allocating housing will also give councils a bigger role in meeting the needs of people in their area. The Pledge also includes commitments to improve access to social housing by providing tenants and prospective tenants with more choice over the properties available, and commitments to clamp down on those cheating the system, so that more properties are available for those who play by the rules.

The £1.5 billion boost will deliver an additional 20,000 new affordable energy efficient homes over the next two years - and a further 10,000 homes delivered through the private sector. Councils and housing associations will both have a key role in delivery of the new affordable homes. This money will also extend the Government programme to get stalled housing projects back on track and prepare public sector land for construction of new homes as well as provide up to 45,000 new jobs in the construction and related industries.

Reforms to be published later this year will ensure the system provides a good start in life for young people, improves employment prospects and offers tenants more choice. In addition, there will be tougher anti-fraud measures to stop people cheating the system through illegal sub-letting, thereby freeing up more homes for those in need.

This conference will offer delegates the opportunity to hear the latest Government policy and discuss and examine the future of social housing during a time of economic downturn.

Agenda

09:15	Registration and Coffee
09:45	Chair’s Welcome Address Jim Vine, Head of Programme (UK Housing Policy and Practice), Building and Social Housing Foundation (CONFIRMED)
09:50	The Future of Housing: Rethinking the UK Housing System for the Twenty-First Century Housing in the UK: challenges and opportunities Improving the supply of affordable housing Future tenure mix and flexible tenure Lord Best, President, Local Government Association (CONFIRMED)
10:10	Affordability in a Changing Economic Climate Impact of the credit crunch on affordable homes delivery target and demand The National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) HomeBuy Funding regeneration projects in a changing economic climate Building capability – resourcing and preparing for response Making the most of our existing housing stock Su Bonfanti, Head of Strategy for London, Homes and Communities Agency (CONFIRMED)
10:30	Building Homes for the Future Implications of the credit crunch and its impact on delivering affordable homes How can housing associations and other key players overcome the challenge and deliver the long-term vision of affordable housing? Preventing repossession for the vulnerable Options open to local authorities to take a proactive approach How can housing providers minimise risks during this uncertain time? Financial advisory support for tenants (help for potential owners hoping to get on the ladder, arrears management etc) Credit crunch: councils and housing solutions David Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation (CONFIRMED)
10:50	Questions and Answers Session
11:10	Coffee and Networking
11:30	Unlocking the Potential of Empty Homes Maximising use of the existing housing stock Using empty homes to meet housing supply targets Measures to bring privately owned empty properties back into use as part of local authorities strategic housing approach What enforcement action can local authorities take? David Ireland, CEO, The Empty Homes Agency (CONFIRMED)
11:50	Delivering Affordable Housing in Sustainable Rural Communities Graham Russell, Executive Director, Commission for Rural Communities (CONFIRMED)
12:10	Building Communities for Londoners Working with boroughs to deliver homes for the future Raising the quality of the communities we build Encouraging tenants to move up the housing ladder Encouraging tenants into work through incentives FirstStep – helping first time buyers Richard Blakeway, Mayor’s Housing Advisor, Greater London Authority (CONFIRMED)
12:30	Striking the Balance Between Affordable and Sustainable Housing Guidance for the commissioning of new build projects Creating greener homes using renewable energy The modernisation of existing housing stock Embedding green design into new builds Sustainable use of resources – water, energy Anne Power, Head of LSE Housing and Communities, London School of Economics (CONFIRMED)
12:50	Questions and Answers Session
13:15	Lunch and Networking
14:15	Afternoon Keynote: The Future of Social Housing Regulation and Tenant Engagement Priorities and recommendations resulting from the National Conversation Understanding the new TSA regulations and inspections Ensuring tenant involvement in housing decision making Providing better services through joint working Phil Morgan, Executive Director, Tenant Service Authority (TSA) (CONFIRMED)
14:35	Decent Homes to Decent Communities Working in partnership to maximise housing provision in a challenging market Understanding your local housing market and local housing needs Delivering new build Council houses and extensions to reduce overcrowding Regenerating poor housing estates to provide good quality affordable housing in a sustainable environment Mark Baigent, Director, Greenwich Waterfront & Strategic Regeneration, Greenwich Council (CONFIRMED)
14:55	Coffee and Networking
15:15	Strategic Housing and CAA Housing Strategy Housing market intelligence Policy and resources New initiatives Next steps Roy Irwin, Chief Housing Inspector, Audit Commission (CONFIRMED)
15:35	Questions and Answers Session
16:00	Coffee and Networking

*programme subject to change without notice

Contributor

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from local authorities, housing associations, RSLs, social services, voluntary sector, energy and construction industry, trade unions, environmental groups, think tanks, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, local strategic partnerships, local, NGOs, housing organisations, academia and legal & voluntary including: directors of housing, directors of social services, heads of policy, head of family services, head of housing needs, supporting people teams, housing and community directors, prevention and option managers, housing strategy officers, housing supply officers, housing providers, mental health advisors and all those with an interest in the housing agenda.

Housing

Thursday March 11th 2010, Grosvenor Hotel, 09:15 - 16:00

The Next Generation of Housing: Affordability, Flexibility and Choice

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