Budget Implications and the Future of Housing Emma Fraser Deputy Director, Housing Growth
My talk today will cover The Manifesto & Election The Housing & Planning Bill A word about classification Looking to the future including the Spending Review 2
What were the key promises made in the manifesto? The Manifesto
200,000 new Starter Homes for first-time buyers under 40 extend Help to Buy Equity Loan to 2020, and introduce a new Help to Buy ISA extend Right to Buy to HA tenants and create a Brownfield Fund to unlock homes on brownfield land double the number of first-time buyers a new Right to Build Manifesto extracts ensure that 90 per cent of suitable brownfield sites have planning permission for housing by 2020
Aims of the Housing and Planning Bill The legislation has three central aims each one interlinked. We re determined that, both in Whitehall and in town halls, everything is done to get the homes we need built. Brandon Lewis A Greater Britain must mean more families having the security and stability of owning a home of their own. My government will do everything it can to help people buy a place of their own at the heart of this is our ambition to build 1 million new homes by 2020 David Cameron help more people buy their own homes We are determined to crack down on rogue landlords who exploit vulnerable people Greg Clark keep the country building, and speed up delivery ensures the way we manage housing is fair and fit for the future 5
Get the Nation Building Homes Faster Part 1 Unlocking Brownfield land Tackling under-performing planning authorities devolving further planning powers to the Mayor of London Providing more information on the potential financial benefits of major developments Doubling the number of custom-built and self-built homes by 2020. Ensuring every area has a Local Plan Improving the process for establishing Urban Development Corporations. Introducing a new Permission in Principle 6
CPO- streamlining the process Include an element of housing as part of applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects Simplifying and speeding up neighbourhood planning. Get the Nation Building Homes Faster Part 2 Get the nation building homes faster by further streamlining the planning system to help deliver Approval conditions in development orders. 7
Helping more people buy their own home Extending the Right to Buy to housing associations. By taking forward measures underpinning the deal with the National Housing Federation. Starter Homes: delivering 200,000 Starter Homes, discounted by at least 20% of market value, for young first-time buyers in England by 2020. 8
Ensuring the way housing is managed is fair and fit for the future Tenants on higher incomes to pay fair rents. Councils to consider selling high value assets when they fall vacant, and making a payment based on the value of vacant high value assets. LAs more tools to tackle rogue landlords and helping landlords tackle abandonment. Allow LAs access to data re nearly 3m tenancy deposits Other measures: assessment of housing and accommodation needs calculating redemption of Rentcharges SoS power to appoint lead Enforcement Authority for Estate Agents. 9
Classification ONS announcement 30/10 Private registered providers of social housing now classified as public corporations for the purposes of the National Accounts. Decision based on regulatory requirements in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, and is retrospective to 2008. 10
Classification Key messages Tenants are not affected by the change Housing associations are voluntary - Government strongly believes they should continue to be independent of it No plans to impose new controls on housing associations Work closely with the sector, the Regulator and other stakeholders to finalise a deregulatory package Look to implement measures through the Housing and Planning Bill with the aim of returning housing associations to the private sector in the future 11
The view ahead (1) Building homes & increasing homeownership central to manifesto Ministers have a mandate for this and are determined to see it through. Respect & value wider charitable / social purposes. Efficiency shareholder disciplines across the sector as well as within individual associations. Government recognises the strength of the sector dealing with pay to stay as well as rent reductions
The view ahead (2) Innovation sector has a strong record of being resourceful and finding solutions to challenges - for example the deal Devolution you know and understand your communities can help shape ambition The sector has responded to some remarkable challenges in a short space of time - they aren t over but we want to work with you to address them and deliver the best results for you and your tenants in the current economic climate 13
Spending Review Launched 21 July Prioritises NHS and national security (not housing) Outcome 25 November At this stage not much more I can say 14
Thank you for your time Emma Fraser Housing Growth, DCLG emma.fraser@communities.gsi.gov.uk 15