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Housing provision: The new development framework. Nick Taylor Head of Area, North West London Homes & Communities Agency. Spending Review outcome.
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Housing provision:The new development framework Nick Taylor Head of Area, North West London Homes & Communities Agency
Spending Review outcome • Government investing over £6.5bn in housing, including over £2bn to make existing social homes decent and £4.5bn to fund new affordable homes, roughly half the 08-11 settlement • £4.5bn includes provision for: • Bringing empty homes back into use • Mortgage Rescue • Places of Change • Gypsy and Traveller sites and the new Affordable Rent Model
What is “affordable rent” • Affordable Rent will be set at ‘up to’ 80% of local market rents • New tenancies will not be secure and will be reviewed after an agreed period of time, with decisions on future tenancy made depending on tenant’s circumstances. • Tenants in homes where the new affordable rent is charged will be eligible to apply for housing benefit. • Tenancies and rents of existing social tenants, will be unaffected • PPS 3 compliant as affordable housing • Will facilitate greater revenue for development partners - enabling delivery where there is far less grant, if required..
Principles • New affordable rent homes funded from a combination of: • Provider’s resources • Borrowing capacity from new affordable rent homes • Capacity generated from conversion (to affordable rent and in some cases, disposal or conversion to shared ownership) • HCA funding • Other resources (provider’s own resources, RCGF (DPF), public land, s106 contributions) • Conversion of existing homes to affordable rent agreed on “something for something” basis – i.e. linked to delivery of new supply • Providers make offers for delivery – i.e. as a package – both new supply and other sources for generating capacity
Package.. • Broad timing of delivery • Indicative location (sub-regional geography) – new supply and conversions/disposals • Outline of target mix • Outline of tenure proposals (is LCHO proposed?) • Standards proposed • Offer on payment terms (payment by results) • We anticipate firm(er) proposals in early years, indicative high level numbers in later years (flexibilities) • Specific potential exemptions from 80% include supported housing, estate regeneration, very high rental areas, possibly larger homes • Update on providers (boards) decisions to participate
Working in the Local context.. • Providers work closely with local authorities in putting forward packages and developing proposals • HCA will seek information on discussions with LAs (pre and post submission of proposals) • HCA will work closely with LAs in investing in new supply • HCA will work with LAs on on-going basis (building on existing work and relationships) to accommodate BIP priorities, • to act as enabler between LAs and providers receiving investment to allow LA priorities to be delivered
Working in the Local context.. • Local Authorities will continue to play a key role on nominations – seek local agreement on achieving mixed income communities • Balance between supply, capacity, allocations and access to nominations, conversions, geographic capacity • 3 way on-going dialogue and discussions – providers, local authorities, HCA as well as on-going discussions with house builders and developers to bring forward new supply
London.. • Close collaborative working with the GLA, HCA and DCLG on programme design • London section of Affordable rent prospectus will set out Mayoral priorities • Working closely with DCLG and GLA to agree when and how to apportion programme to London • Single negotiations with providers including London and rest of England – details to be worked through • HCA London Board will take a view on proposals including consideration of overall funding and receipts position • Affordable rent budget will pass to GLA when Localism Bill becomes law – April 2012
Timing.. • Need to move quickly to implement new approach and test capacity (and appetite) for delivery • Capacity generated from conversion – needs to start early in programme period • Profile of available resource and delivery assumptions – need providers to commit to starts at an early stage • HCA consider offers for 2011-15 SR period across all providers wishing to participate in the new model at same time
We need to start the new programme urgently London affordable starts and completions
Key issues…? • New rent model has significant investment potential in London where market rents are close to double target rents • Need to overcome start on site challenges anticipated next year • Alignment with localism: need to define borough priorities • Interplay with welfare reform – particular pressures on larger homes and ‘benefit trap’ • Estate regeneration: viability and rent pressures • What role for LCHO? • We will need portfolio bids and forward allocations to deal with ‘back loaded’ programme • Viability of larger homes • New risk profile for RSLs (re-let income; gearing; covenants etc) • Planning: need to clarify S106 position