Right to Buy
Trust districts to do what’s needed
A lower PWLB borrowing rate would make a significant difference to the viability and deliverability of regeneration schemes, argues Simone Hines.
Social homes are not a quick fix issue
CIPFA's David Ayre considers if councils will have the capacity and resilience to be able to respond to the call for more social homes, and says radical change is needed that will take time to implement.
Housing MJ: Stepping out of the shadows
With the tragedy of Grenfell still in the background, Kensington and Chelsea LBC is aiming to make better use of all its homes within the borough and sees mixed tenure housing as a game changer. Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith explains.
Housebuilding: 'yet another flawed algorithm'
Kathy O'Leary says 'the potential disparity in new housing allocations highlights real concern about the negative effects of yet another flawed algorithm'.
Ministers to extend Help to Buy
Ministers are drawing up plans to extend the Help to Buy scheme after housebuilders warned buyers could lose out due to delays caused by coronavirus.
HRAs need certainty over their future sustainability
The absence of any funding for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) means the impact on the health of our communities could go beyond the COVID pandemic, according to Simone Hines.
Councils win Right to Buy receipts extension
Councils have won a six-month extension in which to spend receipts from Right to Buy (RtB) sales amid the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Golden opportunity’ to end rough sleeping
The Government has been urged to commit £100m to councils in a bid to end rough sleeping in England.
Mend the UK’s broken land laws to fix housing
Tony Murrell says many believe it’s time for legislation requiring landowners and developers to share the planning uplift windfall they get 50-50 with councils. But is the Government prepared to deliver this radical change?
Government 'obsession with ownership' hampers council housebuilding
Calls for the reform of Right to Buy have been reinforced by research claiming social housing pressures are hampering efforts to tackle homelessness.
Right to Buy reform calls grow
Calls intensified this week for the Government to reform its ‘outdated’ Right to Buy (RtB) policy in next week’s Budget.
Building a new housing approach
A new document explores why we are seeing the rise of local authority-led housing delivery, and the role planners can play in this. Laura Sharman explains.
Basildon’s big ambitions
As Basildon’s 70th birthday year comes to an end, Joe Reay says the celebrations provided the perfect opportunity to rebuild the sense of civic pride that’s vital to a successful place.
Right to buy hinders housing, claims Houghton
Right to buy is ‘the biggest thing that gets in the way’ of council housebuilding and the policy should be scrapped, according to the chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA).
Deliver the funds we need to excel
What does the LGA Independent Group want a new Government to deliver on local finances? National lead peer Cllr Mike Haines says his members all want strengthened local communities – and that requires adequate funding.
Don’t push us off the precipice
The sudden increase in the PWLB lending rate has the potential to cripple local authorities’ ability to deliver affordable homes in an already financially challenging environment, explains Cllr Sharon Taylor.
Ending London’s homeless capital status
On World Homelessness Day, and ahead of next month's London Councils Summit, Cllr Darren Rodwell says boroughs are determined and ambitious about tackling one of the capital’s most pressing challenges.
Housebuilding plans still constrained by affordability
Simone HInes was hoping for confirmation in the spending round that the business rates reset will be deferred until 2021/22 and for measures to improved the ability of local authorities to boost council housebuilding
What an opportunity for a housing minister to be radical and bold
Paul O'Brien says there needs to be a wider recognition at a central and local level of the linkages between place-making and the delivery of homes in terms of health and wellbeing, life chances and local economies.
Conquering housing’s many complexities
Cllr Martin Tett highlights how the LGA is working for councils to be given the powers and funding to fix Britain’s broken housing ladder by building new, social rented houses.
