Memorandum submitted by National Housing
Federation, Shelter and the Chartered Institute of Housing
SUMMARY
1. We welcome the opportunity to respond
to this call for evidence on the role and responsibilities of
the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in the future. We believe
that the changes to regional structures and leadership, as proposed
in the Government's original paper (Review of sub national
economic development and regeneration) and subsequent consultation
(Prosperous Places: Taking forward the review of sub national
economic development and regeneration) have the potential
to help to address England's housing crisis, taking forward strategies
for housing growth and renewal, whilst supporting sustainable
economic development. This includes the strengthened role of local
authorities in economic assessment and partnership with RDAs,
as well as the proposed new leadership role of RDAs in the wider
remit of the Single Integrated Regional Strategy (SIRS).
2. There needs to be a greater formal recognition
of the interaction between housing and sustainable economic development.
Good quality, affordable housing is crucial for economic growth.
Inward investment requires attractive homes, neighbourhoods and
environments in which people want to live and work, and labour
mobility requires choice and a range of housing opportunities.
Economic growth and prosperity in turn support investment in homes
and communities, and increased well being.
3. Closer strategic integration and planning
for housing and economic growth and regeneration, following markets
which cross administrative boundaries, combined with a strong
lead on partnership working to bring together national, regional
and local investment to achieve that is important to take forward
the ambitions for increasing economic prosperity and housing choice
in attractive environments.
4. The complex nature of planning for and
delivering housing will require the RDAs to build strong relationships
with and draw on the expertise of local authorities and housing
stakeholders, and maintain these over the long term to ensure
that housing in an area facilitates sustainable economic development.
5. The RDAs should explicitly recognise
and articulate in the SIRS an overarching policy priority of meeting
the needs and choices of the whole of the regional community.
We strongly recommend that the RDA's future performance management
framework explicitly recognises their strategic importance in
establishing regional housing objectives and providing strategic
leadership in meeting them, including building strong partnerships
with stakeholders.
BACKGROUND TO
SUBMISSION
6. This submission to the Business and Enterprise
Committee on the future role and responsibilities of RDAs is the
contribution of the major representative and campaigning organisations
across the social and not-for-profit housing sector, namely the
Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Housing Federation
and Shelter.
7. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)
is the professional organisation for people who work in housing.
Its purpose is to maximise the contribution that housing professionals
make to the well being of communities. CIH has over 21,000 members
across the UK and Asian Pacific working in a range of organisations—including
housing associations, local authorities, arms length management
organisations, the private sector and educational institutions.
8. The National Housing Federation is the
trade body for housing associations and represents 1300 members,
who between them provide 2.4 million homes for over 5 million
people. Housing associations work in some of the most deprived
neighbourhoods in the country and are often the strongest and
most experienced third sector organisation working locally.
9. Shelter is the national housing and homelessness
charity that provides practical advice, support and innovative
services to over 17,000 homeless or badly housed people every
year. Shelter is a leading expert on housing in Britain, and informs
public opinion on housing issues. Within each English region,
shelter works with regional institutions and regional decision
makers to help shape and deliver policy that addresses housing
need. At national level, Shelter works with Government and other
agencies to develop long-term changes in policy.
10. We are committed to working with RDAs,
local authorities and stakeholders in identifying the most appropriate
structures and processes for each region and to raise awareness
of the links between the different policy areas brought together
in the SIRS. Individually and in partnership, all of the responding
organisations have been involved in facilitating events to broker
discussions between RDAs, local authorities and other key regional
partners in the regions, to begin the process of working out effective
engagement in the future.
INTEGRATING STRATEGIC
APPROACHES
11. A greater formal recognition of the
interaction between housing and sustainable economic development
would enhance work to achieve Government's economic objectives.
Good quality, affordable housing is a pre-requisite for economic
growth; inward investment requires attractive homes, neighbourhoods
and environments in which people want to live and work.
12. Hence there is a need for clear leadership
on closer integration of strategic approaches and planning for
housing and economic development, together with other key areas
such as transport and infrastructure. This will maximise the impacts
for local and regional communities. The economic consequences
of not recognising the economy's reliance on housing are clear—areas
of high housing demand face increased employment costs and lack
of labour mobility, and areas of economic disinvestment face low
demand that further drives economic decline. The impact of housing
on the economy is not limited to new supply. Bad housing prevents
individuals from realising their economic and social potential,
limiting social mobility and reinforcing economic dependence and
inequality.
13. In terms of the RDAs' performance management
framework, the regional economic indicator sets must recognise
both the complex interplay between housing and economic development
and tackling economic disparity, and the complexity of achieving
decent housing supply, covering both new and existing stock.
14. The single regional economic growth
objective should be complemented by an overarching housing objective,
to drive forward an integrated approach and to ensure that regions
address the full range of housing need and housing aspirations
for communities. It would act to ensure that the acute housing
need in some geographical areas or for members of communities
who are not seen as contributing to economic growth are still
addressed, to deliver the achievement of mixed, inclusive, sustainable
communities. An overarching housing objective would act to ensure
sufficient investment in housing and economic renewal outside
the main urban conurbations driving economic growth.
STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
ARRANGEMENTS
15. The proposals mean a shift in focus
and extension of the responsibilities of the RDAs to achieve better
strategic integration. The new arrangements therefore require
RDAs to build long term and effective stakeholder engagement,
and to establish strong partnership frameworks to complement the
working partnership they will be developing with the local authorities
leaders' forum and the Homes and Communities Agency.
16. Regional and sub regional housing stakeholders
have a role to play supporting the RDAs by:
— Identifying and scoping emerging
issues
— Contributing to the evidence base
— Developing policy responses to identified
issues
— Contributing policy expertise and
good practice
— Delivering on housing outcomes in
the regions
— Contributing to monitoring and evaluation.
17. RDAs will, through regional housing
stakeholders, be able to access region-wide viewpoints and intelligence
to support the leaders' forum in identifying regional priorities.
They also provide another network for wider community engagement
and a route for accountability for delivery. This is in addition
to the leaders' forum which, in developing and agreeing the SIRS
with the RDA will provide a direct connection back to their local
communities.
18. Government already recognised the importance
of fully involving communities and independent stakeholders in
Local Strategic Partnerships, and has created a new duty for local
authorities to consult with and involve members of the community
and independent groups. We therefore propose the creation of a
duty of similar strength for RDAs to inform, consult with, and
have due regard to the views expressed by independent stakeholders
at all stages of SIRS development. Stakeholder engagement should
be fully integrated in the RDAs performance framework.
LOCAL ECONOMIC
ASSESSMENTS
19. RDAs will have a key role in sharing
expertise and supporting local authorities in developing their
proposed new duty of local economic assessment. They should be
able to provide advice and tools for this process, to ensure that
the assessments are robust and of a consistent approach to be
able to inform and shape the regional strategic approach in the
SIRS.
REGIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
AND SCRUTINY
PROPOSALS
20. The consultation paper set out proposals
to ensure regional accountability and scrutiny of the process.
We called for further clarity on this and guidance for the respective
partners. We believe this will help the understanding of the process
of accountability. The role of the leaders' forum in developing
and agreeing the strategy is an important route of accountability
to local communities, but the process for reconciling disagreements
or divergent views needs further development, and should incorporate
the role of the Regional Minister.
19 September 2008
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