DCLG reveals thinking behind housebuilding in next spending review

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government

A senior Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) figure has revealed the Government's thinking ahead of the next spending review and says the housing sector has an “opportunity” to present an offer that will lead to "real economic activity".

However, Peter Schofield, director-general of neighbourhoods at the DCLG, did warn the Government was looking at “building less homes with public money and making better use of assets and investments.”

Speaking today at the Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Manchester, Mr Schofield said the next spending review would be a "period of even less money" and that there were "some key questions to answer".

But he said he was committed to keep housing “at the centre” of Government policy.

He told delegates: “You and I need to answer some difficult questions.

"Question 1 - How can we build homes with less public money - and how can we encourage the house builders to build on existing sites more rapidly? For social housing how can we reduce the need for subsidy by better use of assets and investments?

"Question 2 - How can we reduce the cost of building, what reforms to regulation should we consider?

"Question 3 - How can we bring more land to market and make sure the National Planning Policy Framework makes a real impact? How can we free up more public sector land?

"Question 4 - How can we make sure the social housing stock provides support for those that most need it?

"Question 5 - How can assets be used more effectively?

"Question 6  - How can we encourage more private sector investment in housing?”

He added: "Our ambition should be, in the years to come, people looking back and seeing the 2010s as a decade for house building in a way that we currently look back on the 1930s and 1950s."

Mr Schofield said there is a great opportunity for the sector to present its economic benefits after last year’s focus on infrastructure in the autumn statement.

He said: “Now the spotlight is where else could you take any available support the Government could make that could lead to real economic activity and - and people have alighted to housing quite rightly. People in central Government are willing to hear the arguments."

He did, however, question whether the sector could be better in putting together a "united voice".

He added: “Whether private sector house builders, housing associations and councils unite around a package of ideas and proposals – saying ‘this is what we need, and this is what we will do in return’.  That’s what we need to see. We saw a bit of that in the run up to the Housing Strategy but we need to see more of it."