Can the public sector lead on housing supply post-Brexit?
Stacked against obstacles alone, the answer to the above should be “no”. London local authorities must serve rapidly changing and growing populations with shrinking budgets, conflicting policy pressures and yet-to-be-defined fiscal powers under business rates reform. The Autumn Statement promised new money for housing, but there’s little certainty about long-term funding, and Brexit complicates every aspect of housing provision.
That being said, local government is already starting to lead on delivery, and is picking up the pace. To assess what’s working and how to sustain the momentum, cross-sector housing leaders gathered in late November for the Alan Cherry Debate, hosted by Countryside Properties and facilitated by Future of London.
Their conclusion? That local authority strengths – planning and CPO powers, land ownership, and access to low-cost finance – give them a pivotal role in meeting London housing need, and that their social mandate sets them up to deliver it well. What’s needed now is joined-up thinking. Read on…
Download: Alan Cherry Debate summary
Participants:
Deirdra Armsby, Director of Regeneration & Planning, LB Newham
Mark Baigent, Interim Head of Strategy, Regeneration, Sustainability & Housing Options, LB Tower Hamlets
Ken Baikie, Director, Regeneration – Thamesmead, Peabody
Dave Baptiste, Head of Housing Development, LB Ealing
Barbara Brownlee, Director of Housing & Regeneration, Westminster City Council
Richard Cherry, CEO, Partnerships, Countryside Properties
Mike De’Ath, Partner, HTA Design LLP
John East, Strategic Director for Growth & Homes, LB Barking & Dagenham
Lyn Garner, Director, Regeneration, Planning & Development, LB Haringey
Jerome Geoghegan, Group Director, London & Quadrant
Peter George, Assistant Director, LB Enfield
Pat Hayes, Executive Director of Regeneration & Housing, LB Ealing
Michael Hill, Business Strategy Director, Countryside Properties
Gerry Hughes, Chief Executive, GVA
Ken Jones, Director of Housing Strategy, LB Waltham Forest
John Lumley, Director, Regeneration, LB Hackney
David Lunts, Executive Director, Housing & Land, Greater London Authority
Genevieve Macklin, Head of Housing Services, LB Lewisham
Paul Nichols, Divisional Director Regeneration & Planning, LB Harrow
Lisa Taylor, Chief Executive, Future of London
Davinia Venton, Associate Director (Land and New Business), Countryside Properties
Brendon Walsh, Executive Director of Regeneration, Economic Development & Environment, LB Hounslow
