24housing Magazine - December 2011
In this issue
There was only one subject up for discussion in the 24housing news room this month – and before you ask, it wasn’t the hair regain treatment that nobody has noticed I’m having.
It was of course the Government’s Housing Strategy and, perhaps more pertinently, when exactly is it going to be published and will it be in time for our December edition?
Thanks to the influence we have at Number 10 and the Department for Communities and Local Government, the decision was made to launch it on November 22 – in the very same week we go to press. Thanks for that. But seeing as it’s the most significant policy document to be dedicated to housing published for a very long time, we have made every effort to report on
it as thoroughly as possible – in two extra news pages we have added for this special edition.
As a first estimate, we actually think about 70 percent of the Housing Strategy is a rehash of policies that Grant Shapps has announced on at least one previous occasion. What is significant, however, is the fact that it finally provides a narrative and structure to where the Coalition is headed on housing. For that we are
especially grateful.
To the Government’s credit, there is actually some substantial stuff going on in the Strategy and its heart appears to be in the right place. Concerns still linger over the amount of money actually being invested in housing (a drop in the ocean compared to what’s really required) and the suspicion remains that the private sector will be expected to take up the slack – the mortgage indemnity scheme is a prime example. Away from the Housing Strategy, this issue is our Review of the Year special and pulls together some of the leading lights in the sector to analyse just what has been going on these past 12 months. It’s fair to say that the consensus isn’t altogether positive although the majority at least find something to be upbeat about.
Talking of positive developments for the housing sector, 24publishing is delighted to announce the launch of a new dedicated recruitment website for housing and local government professionals. During December we are offering 24housing subscribers the opportunity to load jobs onto the ‘beta’ site for free – so don’t miss out!
Please follow the link to have a look around and we would be delighted to hear your feedback: www.jobs.24dash.com.
Jon Land
Editor, 24housing Magazine
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