www.cohousing.org.uk UKCohousing Jo@cohousing.org.uk

‘An idea whose time has come’

The National Cohousing Conference 2015

Policy Overview: Housing

Navigating the housing policy terrain…

• Pro-Growth- Housing Bill

• Devolution Deals

• Policy developments on the horizon relevant to cohousing.

The Housing Bill

• Duty placed on local authorities to promote starter homes (scrapping requirement to build/fund affordable/rental homes often levered through Section 106- currently 37%)

• Requirement on local authorities to keep a register of demand for self build, and to have regard for supporting self build

• Extension of Right to Buy to housing associations – voluntary agreement subject to regulatory oversight

• Automatic planning permission on Brownfield land

• Levy on local authorities who are required to sell high value properties that become vacant

• Pay to Stay for higher income tenants of housing associations introduced

• Local authorities must have local plans in place by 2017 or be subject to ‘intervention’

Devolution

• New regional development plans

• Regional devolved investment & housing funding

• Delegated planning powers

• Imperative potential contribution of DIY citizen housing is identified with strategic support by emerging combined authorities/LEP’s.

• Reducing capacity of HCA (caveat regional variation could be an outcome)

Other housing policy areas to be aware of :

• Empty homes funding – currently rolled into Affordable Homes Grant. New pot?

• Expansion of permitted use development rights.

• Comprehensive Spending Review 25th November - £20 billion new savings to be announced.

• Specific programmes & policy to develop innovative housing solutions to meet needs of elderly.

• Capital loan programmes to support home ownership/starter homes.

• Increasing numbers of housing associations developing shared home ownership.