NHF, CIH & HBF join forces to promote investment

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Development, Finance

The National Housing Federation (NHF), Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) have joined forces to promote the new jobs and growth that more investment in housing could bring to the West Midlands.

The group will be calling on local enterprise partnerships and local authorities to work with them to promote investment in new homes in a bid to tackle the undersupply of housing and create jobs.

The three organisations will be jointly writing to the Chairs of all West Midlands' local enterprise partnerships to highlight how investment in new housing supply can help them meet their aspirations for jobs, skills and growth.

Chris Handy, National Housing Federation West Midlands regional chair, said: "Despite the number of new families growing in the West Midlands every year, we are currently building less than half the homes we need to keep up with the growing demand for new homes. With the average home costing nine times average regional income, now is the time to be investing in more new homes.

"Local enterprise partnerships, who promote new growth in the region, can play a key role in helping to prioritise housing  to increase supply, help stimulate local economies and get people into work."

Grainia Long, CIH chief executive, said: "Investment in housing is good for the West Midlands economy – every £1 invested in housing and construction creates £2.84 of economic activity.

"Putting housing at the front and centre of the West Midlands economic growth strategy will deliver benefits now, and provide the foundation for sustainable growth in the long term.’

Keith Carnegie, West Midlands regional chair of HBF, commented: "It’s vital that local authorities and local enterprise partnerships work together to plan positively to increase housing supply.

"On top of the obvious social benefits of tackling the West Midland’s housing crisis, increased house building will create thousands of local jobs and create much needed local economic growth."