We held our latest Future of London Breakfast Seminar on Tuesday, focussing on how Boroughs can best deliver regeneration schemes. Colleagues from Brent, Croydon and the HCA gave presentations, and expert views were offered by representatives from Base Homes and Eversheds.
You can find pictures and presentations from the session elsewhere on this blog, but for me, the real lessons of the seminar were as follows:
1) Function must come before form. All of our panellists agreed that it is vital for local authorities to be clear from the outset what their aims and objectives are in establishing specific delivery vehicles. Delivery vehicles are simply a means to an end, so identifying the outcomes you want to achieve is critical.
2) We can get carried away with acronyms. There has perhaps been a tendancy over recent years for policymakers to align themselves with Government initiatives, irrespective of local circumstances. Whether it be URCs, LHCs, or LABVs, local authorities need to be clear that arrangements are going to work for them in their locality; and,
3) Simple is better, and clarity is key. It will be to the benefit of all partners if arrangements are as straightforward and easy to understand as possible. Furthermore, as the HCA moves towards its new role as an enabling body that provides investment to facilitate the delivery of locally defined priorities, schemes that have clear and coherent delivery structures are more likely to secure their involvement.
Thanks to all those who took part on Tuesday, and look out for more details on the next seminar in this series, which is to be held on 7th September, and will focus on issues surrounding the provision of affordable housing across London.
Ben H
FoL
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