Strategy and policy England/Wales

   

Housing and related strategies

• 4 December 2008

  Tackling worklessness in NDC areas - a policy and practice update This paper draws out lessons from four NDC programmes' efforts to tackle worklessness, giving examples of progress made, the problems faced and projects used to address them and provides a guide to some of the issues relevant to neighbourhood level interventions to tackle worklessness

   

• 28 November 2008

  Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas), England, April 2007/March 2008 The baseline data measuring Departmental Strategic Objective 3.7: Overall Employment rate (working age population) at neighbourhood level (in deprived areas). The release covers the baseline data for the most deprived areas in Working Neighbourhood Fund (WNF) areas and the rest of England, for April 2007-March 2008

   

• 28 November 2008

  Tackling Worklessness: A Review of the contribution and role of local authorities and partnerships - Interim Report The Interim Report of Stephen Houghton's Tackling Worklessness Review contains the Review team's current thinking on how successful multi-agency and cross-sector local partnerships can best tackle worklessness in their communities

   

• 27 November 2008

  Are you going in the right direction? Get your bearings with a housing strategy health check

   

• 26 November 2008

  Addressing worklessness with social housing tenants through targeted outreach Complimentary SUNnet briefing paper describes why it is such an important issue for social landlords, and shows how Unity Housing Association has addressed it by developing the Tenants Into Work (TIW) model of partnership working and outreach

   

• 26 November 2008

  In brief: Housing and economic development - moving forward together This report aims to assist the Housing Corporation and its successor bodies in the development of policy and strategy, with an emphasis on how future housing investment can maximise its contribution to economic development and how housing and physical regeneration interventions can be integrated with, and complementary to, economic development strategies

   

• 26 November 2008

  Preparing for our ageing society – a discussion paper This DWP discussion paper, and a series of associated public discussion events, are part of the first stage of a review of the government’s strategy for meeting the challenges of our ageing society

   

• 21 November 2008

  The British 'welfare market': Lessons from contracting out welfare to work programmes in Australia and the Netherlands Jospeh Rowntree report which looks in detail at the development and impact of the Australian and Dutch welfare markets

   

• 21 November 2008

  More councils to offer homes and jobs advice Sixty councils will benefit from increased funding to boost their housing and employment advice options for local residents, announced Communities Minister Iain Wright

   

• 18 November 2008

  Housing choices and issues for young people in the UK Young people are experiencing increased risk and uncertainty as they move into independent housing. This Joseph Rowntree review considers their options and highlights some of the most pressing housing-related issues facing young people in the UK today

   

• 24 October 2008

  The Neighbourhood Audit The NHF audit revealed that housing associations deliver more than 6,800 identifiable projects, many with a plethora of different activities, and hundreds of neighbourhood facilties like community centres, sports facilities and others, which contribute to the economic, environmental and social stability of our neighbourhoods

   

• 22 October 2008

  Lifting the Burdens Task Force: a review of Economic Development and Regeneration This is the penultimate review from the Task Force and has taken place in the context of the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) and the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)

   

• 21 October 2008

  Tackling the green agenda Network briefing by Richard Lupo outlines the main initiatives taken in the UK and what they mean for building practice with a particular reference to social housing providers

   

• 16 October 2008

  House price index – August 2008 The latest UK house price index statistics have now been produced by Communities and Local Government

   

• 9 October 2008

  New proposals to tackle rural housing shortages New powers to help keep homes affordable for communities in rural areas have been set out by Housing Minister Iain Wright

   

• 9 October 2008

  Shared Ownership and Leasehold Enfranchisement and Designation of 'Protected Areas' - A consultation paper This consultation paper sets out, and seeks view on, the initial proposals for designation in rural areas. It also asks for views on the types of location which could be considered for designation and the terms and conditions for non-housing association shared ownership leases granted for houses. Consultation closes 31.12.08

   

• 1 October 2008

  New sustainable framework for homes and jobs in the North West A new regional strategy that directs long-term housing and economic growth and environmental protection in the North West was announced by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews

   

• 29 September 2008

  Housing support for service personnel Frequently asked questions about housing commitments arising from the Service Personnel Command Paper

   

• 22 September 2008

  The Strategic Housing Role of Local Authorities: Powers and Duties This document, which is part of a suite of guidance about the local authority strategic housing role, lists some of the powers and guidance that authorities can draw upon in delivering their strategic housing role

   

• 18 September 2008

  Housing in England 2006/07: A report based on the 2006/07 Survey of English Housing This report is based on information from the 17,849 households interviewed for the Survey of English Housing (SEH) in the year beginning April 2006

   

• 18 September 2008

  Achieving Building for life This Housing Corporation publication offers guidance for affordable housing providers on how to achieve the Building for Life standards

   

• 11 September 2008

  Charity begins at home - new action to get homeless into work A major new initiative to help give the chance of a job to more people who have experienced homelessness has been announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint

   

• 10 September 2008

  Ensuring a fair housing market for all - Latest housing market package Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor, gives an overview of the latest housing market package, recently announced by CLG

   

• 7 August 2008

  Last ever Housing Corporation corporate plan published The last ever Housing Corporation corporate plan has now been published. In 2008-09 the Housing Corporation has committed itself to facilitating the smooth and effective transition of its responsibilities to the new agencies, working in close partnership with the teams tasked with setting up the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenant Services Authority

   

• 31 July 2008

  Government guidance on housing provision to inform regional strategy revisions Caroline Flint, Minister for Housing and Planning, has written to the Chairs of the eight Regional Assemblies and the Mayor of London offering guidance on housing provision to inform regional strategy revisions

   

• 31 July 2008

  Bidders shortlisted in £200m transport scheme for new housing Schemes shortlisted for a share of a £200m transport infrastructure fund for new housing developments have been announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint and Transport Minister Rosie Winterton

   

• 29 July 2008

  New deal for communities: lessons learnt Network briefing by Sheila Spencer summarises the key messages coming from the evaluations so far, and draws some conclusions which may be of help to housing authorities and other housing agencies in developing their approach to tackling deprivation

   

• 23 July 2008

  Government welcomes Matthew Taylor report The Government has welcomed Matthew Taylor MP's report into rural economies and affordable housing saying that his core proposals support and extend the commitments they have already made to boost affordable housing and ensure that every rural community can share in the nation's prosperity

   

• 22 July 2008

  Further consultation on vital South West development vision A 12 week consultation on the South West's vision to tackle climate change, address housing shortages and strengthen the region's economy has been launched by the Government

   

• 22 July 2008

  Further consultation on vital East Midlands regional plan A 12 week consultation on the East Midland's vision to tackle climate change, address housing shortages and strengthen the region's economy has been launched by the Government Office for the East Midlands. Consultation closes 17 October 2008

   

• 21 July 2008

  Consultation on the future of the Local Area Agreement reward scheme (July 2008) This consultation document sets out the Government's proposals for a new method of calculating Performance Reward Grant entitlement. Consultation closes 26 September 2008

   

• 17 July 2008

  London – a new Mayor. A new approach. A new strategy for housing? Network briefing by Genevieve Macklin explores the changes and new ideas being introduced by the new Mayor of London

   

• 17 July 2008

  Second round growth points: Partnerships for growth This document provides a list of successful second round NGPs along with agreed housing numbers, local ambitions, and a location map

   

• 17 July 2008

  Facing the housing challenge: Action today, innovation for tomorrow As a result of the credit crunch, we have seen falls in house prices, people find it harder to get a mortgage and house-builders are experiencing difficult business conditions

   

• 11 July 2008

  Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities Statutory Guidance: Summary of Responses to Consultation This document provides a summary of responses received as part of the consultation process for the draft statutory guidance Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities

   

• 11 July 2008

  Sustainable Communities Act 2007 Response to Consultation on Regulations and Statutory Guidance The Sustainable Communities Act received Royal Assent on 23 October 2007. Its aim is to promote the sustainability of local communities. This paper comprises the formal response to consultation on draft Regulations and Statutory Guidance

   

• 9 July 2008

  Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities: Statutory Guidance This document provides statutory guidance to local authorities and their partners on creating strong, safe and prosperous communities. It covers the duty to involve and duties around Local Area Agreements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

   

• 30 June 2008

  Local initiatives to help workless people find and keep paid work Joseph Rowntree report into Worklessness

   

• 11 June 2008

  Tackling overcrowding in England This note summarises the lessons learned so far from five Communities and Local Government-funded pilot schemes in London and work to strengthen capacity to address overcrowding in each of the five London sub-regions

   

• 11 June 2008

  House Price Index - April 2008 The latest UK house price index statistics produced by Communities and Local Government

   

• 9 June 2008

  Reaching Out - working with ethnic communities in housing Complimentary SUNnet briefing for Network members on addressing the issues surrounding worklessness

   

• 6 June 2008

  Two housing associations appointed to manage distribution of the Corporation's £50,000 IGP Grant to tackle overcrowding Bradford Community Housing Trust and Peabody Trust have been appointed by the Housing Corporation to manage distribution of its £50k Innovation and Good Practice (IGP) Grant to tackle overcrowding, it has been announced

   

• 4 June 2008

  Rural housing in Wales The paper presents the findings and recommendations of the independent JRF Commission on Rural Housing in Wales

   

• 29 May 2008

  New drive to get long term unemployed back to work Local Government Minister John Healey has announced details of a new review team to advise how steps to improve our most disadvantaged communities can make a real difference

   

• 8 May 2008

  £50,000 available to housing associations to help tackle overcrowding The Housing Corporation is seeking expressions of interest from eligible housing associations to manage a £50,000 IGP grant to help tackle overcrowding. The grant supports the December 2007 launch of the Governments National Overcrowding Action Plan that announced 38 local authority led overcrowding pathfinder areas covering London, Birmingham, Leicester, Manchester and Liverpool

   

• 2 May 2008

  Participatory Budgeting Participatory budgeting is one of the key practices that can successfully empower large numbers of local people. It engages with local people to take decisions on the spending priorities for a part of a public budget in their local area, for example for activities such as local environmental issues, community facilities, road safety measures or local crime initiatives

   

• 2 May 2008

  Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Regulatory Impact Assessment This revised Regulatory Impact Assessment assesses the likely impact of the policy proposals outlined in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It takes into account minor policy amendments made before the Act received Royal Assent in October 2007

   

• 1 May 2008

  Good Practice Note 16: Working with local authorities Housing Corporation Good Practice Note aims to promote more effective joint working between housing associations and local authorities, to encourage wider thinking and to generate improved practice

   

• 25 April 2008

  Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society Network briefing by Hazel Summers outlines the key elements and implications of the national strategy for housing in an ageing society

   

• 16 April 2008

  House Price Index Statistical Release - February 2008 The latest monthly house price index statistical release has just been published by CLG. The link below provides the latest release and an archive of previous releases

   

• 9 April 2008

  Housing and planning: the crucial role of the new local performance framework Central and local government are both aware that housing delivery is a key issue. Local Area Agreements (LAAs) will form part of a range of measures through which local authorities and their partners can achieve their objectives on housing growth. This publication describes how the local performance framework (including LAAs and the national indicator set) allows local authorities and partners to prioritise and address housing delivery through targets that are tailored to a three-year timescale

   

• 8 April 2008

  Modernising Housing Advice Housing advice has always played a key role in preventing homelessness but could housing advice offer more? CIH believes a more expanded role should be considered, a role that focuses on helping more individuals realise their long-term housing aspirations – whether in the private sector or in affordable housing. It published its report in March 2008

   

• 2 April 2008

  Investing in lifetimes Plans to address the housing needs of an ageing population outlined in new Housing Corporation Strategy

   

• 20 March 2008

  Expanding Choice, Addressing Need CLG document which outlines a new vision for the provision of housing advice in England

   

• 20 March 2008

  Flint announces next steps to link housing advice and opportunities Housing Minister Caroline Flint has announced a package of measures to step-up action to tackle worklessness, promote opportunity and strengthen the link between access to housing services, training and jobs

   

• 20 March 2008

  The public value of social housing: a longitudinal analysis of the relationship between housing and life chances This research study looks at the life chances of people living in social housing from the Second World War up to the current day

   

• 12 March 2008

  House Price Index - January 2008 CLG statistical release

   

• 6 March 2008

  Supporting Evidence for Local Delivery The SELD pilot programme was introduced in 2005 to promote better use of data, research and evidence in neighbourhood renewal through the provision of technical assistance to Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and neighbourhood renewal partnerships. This research is a national evaluation of the quality, impact, fitness for purpose, benefits, and cost effectiveness of the Supporting Evidence for Local Delivery (SELD) programme

   

• 6 March 2008

  Lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods Speech by Baroness Kay Andrews OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

   

• 4 March 2008

  Risk management strategy Housing Corporation

   

• 27 February 2008

  Working Neighbourhoods Fund allocations CLG Good practice and guidance, Reports and summaries

   

• 26 February 2008

  The Big Picture Network briefing by Chloe Fletcher highlights the main policy changes over the past year and outlines what it will mean for housing providers in the coming few years

   

• 25 February 2008

  Housing Choices and Aspirations of Older People: Research from the New Horizon's Programme This report was commissioned by Communities and Local Government as part of a larger project to support the development of the National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society

   

• 25 February 2008

  Impact Assessment of National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society: Advice and Information, Rapid Repairs Service The national strategy for housing in an ageing society (the Strategy) includes a number of key initiatives and recommendations, two of which are subject to, and included in, this impact assessment: (i) new advice and information services, and (ii) a rapid repairs service

   

• 25 February 2008

  Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: Housing in an Ageing Society – Blears Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Caroline Flint announce a range of measures to bring about a fundamental change in the way we build future communities alongside an expansion in existing support available to older people that will help them to live safely and, where they choose, independently in their own homes

   

• 25 February 2008

  Lifetime Homes, lifetime neighbourhoods: A national strategy for housing in an ageing society The ageing of the population will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century for housing. This strategy sets CLG’s response to this challenge and their plan to create Lifetime Homes in Lifetime Neighbourhoods

   

• 6 February 2008

  Minister confirms funding to combat worklessness Councils in the most deprived areas of the country are to receive additional funding to tackle the acute problems their communities face, Local Government Minister John Healey confirmed.

   

• 6 February 2008

  CLG speech The Rt Hon Caroline Flint MP - Minister for Housing

   

• 1 February 2008

  Statistical release - English House Condition Survey 2006 The 2006 English House Condition Survey headline report

   

• 23 January 2008

  A New Deal for Local Devolution? CLG speech by the Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

   

• 28 December 2007

  Overcoming worklessness Network briefing by Janis Bright explores the role that social housing can play in addressing worklessness within the sector

   

• 17 December 2007

  The 2008 Housing Transfer Programme The 2008 Housing Transfer Programme Letter and Programme for Disposals (Applications) Direction 2008 provide formal notification to stock owning Local Authorities of the existence and criteria for applying for a place on the 2008 Housing Transfer Programme. Applications must be submitted by Monday 31 March 2008

   

• 17 December 2007

  ‘People not just houses’ - Yvette Cooper announces next steps for social housing Councils and landlords should ensure social housing services focus on people, not just the homes they live in, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said in a speech to the Housing Corporation and Chartered Institute of housing

   

• 13 December 2007

  FRS Circular 55/2007 - Key consultations on new local performance framework This circular provides details of consultations and other material related to the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, implementing the new Local Area Agreement (LAA) framework set out in the Local Government White Paper Strong and Prosperous Communities published in October 2006

   

• 6 December 2007

  National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society Speech by Baroness Kay Andrews OBE - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

   

• 6 December 2007

  Green light for five flagship Unitary Councils Local Government Minister John Healey announced final decisions on re-structuring today taking forward five successful proposals put forward by councils for unitary status, alongside a timetable for first elections and a package of measures to ensure that they are all up and running effectively on 1 April 2009

   

• 28 November 2007

  The Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Ministers asked John Callcutt (former Chief Executive of English Partnerships and prior to that Chief Executive of Crest Nicholson) to undertake an independent review of the house building industry structure and business model, including land holding, and the capability of the industry to deliver increased housing supply in a low/zero carbon environment. The purpose of the review was to examine how the supply of new homes is influenced by the nature and structure of the housebuilding industry, the business models and its supply chain, including land, material and skills

   

• 7 November 2007

  Queen's Speech 2007 - Building better homes and empowering communities Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Yvette Cooper welcomed the publication of the government's Queen's Speech, with legislation to help build the homes future generations need and create places where people want to live and work

   

• 5 November 2007

  Strong and prosperous communities The Local Government White Paper Implementation Plan: One Year On

   

• 11 October 2007

  Stock rationalisation pilot projects launched in Croydon and Havering Housing Corporation News Release

   

• 10 October 2007

  Strategic housing - Green Paper response and housing headlines from the pre-budget report and CSR Complimentary SEN briefings by Gill Leng are intended to highlight the kind of areas where you may feel it appropriate to focus your responses and has been made under headings that will be more relevant to local authorities rather than Green Paper headings Additional files: Document

   

• 3 October 2007

  Housing in the regions Speech by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper

   

• 3 October 2007

  Housing in England 2005/06: A report principally from the 2005/06 Survey of English Housing This report is mostly based on information from the 18,386 households interviewed for the Survey of English Housing (SEH) in the year beginning April 2005. The SEH is a continuous survey which started in April 1993. It provides key housing data on tenure, owner occupation and the social rented sector, and is the principal source of information about the private rented sector

   

• 20 September 2007

  Blears: Time to deliver on devolution Hazel Blears unveiled the first phase of guidance for new Local Area Agreements (LAAs) today marking a radical letting go of Whitehall controls to give councils and communities more power to decide their own local priorities.

   

• 20 September 2007

  LAA Dry-run negotiations: Final Report: Headline Messages - September 2007 This report outlines the headline findings of the LAA dry-run negotiation process which was undertaken between April and July 2007. This exercise was undertaken in preparation for the introduction of new LAAs as set out in the Strong and Prosperous Communities: Local Government White Paper

   

• 20 September 2007

  Negotiating new local area agreements This is the first part of two-stage guidance on the negotiation process for negotiating a new LAA. This first part tells the 'narrative' of each level of government with respect to the LAA process. It also incorporates the lessons learnt from feasibility testing, helps to 'de-mystify' the negotiation process and helps to set expectations that each can have of each other.

   

• 10 September 2007

  Housing market assessments Network briefing by Stacey Sleeman offers an overview on how local authorities and regions can work together to identify sub-regional housing markets

   

• 3 August 2007

  Gypsies and Travellers: the housing agenda – an update Network briefing by Vanessa Morton seeks to provide an update on developments since the Networks earlier briefings and to clarify further, how and why housing organisations should be involved

   

• 26 July 2007

  A quick summary of the new housing Green Paper Network summary by Andy Selman of the housing Green Paper published on 23 July

   

• 25 July 2007

  Statement about housing supply By Yvette Cooper MP, Minister for Housing

   

• 29 June 2007

  Respect: an update Network briefing by Natalie Pace, provides an update on some key parts of the Respect Action plan for landlords as well as outlining forthcoming changes in relation to local crime and disorder reduction partnerships

   

• 28 June 2007

  Response to the Local Area Agreements Road Shows Report During February and March over a thousand people participated in a series of roadshows organised by the Government Offices to discuss the new arrangements for Local Area Agreements (LAAs). The feedback from the roadshows has been captured in this report written by the Office of Public Management OPM

   

• 28 June 2007

  Local Area Agreements Road Shows Report April 2007 Independent report produced by OPM and the LAA Evaluation Consortium for Communities and Local Government on the LAA Regional Roadshows held across England throughout March. It details the key messages for Central Government and for localities. An indicative LAA negotiating timetable for 2007/08 is also included

   

• 28 June 2007

  Indicative LAA negotiating timetable for 2007/08 CLG broad overview of likely milestones leading up to sign-off of agreements in June 2008

   

• 21 June 2007

  CLG Guidance notes on the completion of the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) - 2006/07 Supplement The purpose of this appendix is to bring together statistical information relevant to the formulation of your Housing Strategy. The presentation of this data will enable your authority, partners and other interesting parties to gain a quick overview of your position and will inform development of the Regional Housing Strategy

   

• 21 June 2007

  Inspection report Maidstone Housing Trust Limited - Housing Management Services

  Star rating: Comments: Promising prospects

   

• 19 June 2007

  Tenant Empowerment - A consultation paper CLG consultation which sets out proposals to increase tenant empowerment and includes: a new draft Statutory Instrument to simplify the Right to Manage regulations for local authority tenants; a proposal to promote a voluntary Tenant Management process for all social housing tenants and landlords; a proposal to establish a National Tenant Voice; and proposals to increase tenant voice in stock transfers. Consultation period 19th June to 11th September

   

• 19 June 2007

  Delivering Housing and Regeneration: Communities England and the future of social housing regeneration CLG consultation paper explains more about Communities England and offers an opportunity for you to comment on its roles and responsibilities and suggest how it might operate. This document also invites views on the Government’s proposals for the future system of regulating social housing providers, taking forward recommendations made by Professor Martin Cave in his Review of Social Housing Regulation. Consultation period 19th June to 10th September

   

• 19 June 2007

  Every Tenant Matters: A Review of Social Housing Regulation Report of the independent review of social housing regulation led by Professor Martin Cave, Director of Management under Regulation at Warwick University

   

• 15 June 2007

  The Cambridge Challenge The Housing Corporation has launched The Cambridge Challenge, a pilot programme trialling a different way of managing large strategic sites which have national and regional significance