Major study launched into housing organisations and the northern economy

Published by Nicola Mileham for Stockport Homes in Local Government and also in Communities, Housing

Stockport Homes is one of seven housing organisations working with the Northern Housing Consortium and Sheffield Hallam University on a study of the economic impact of housing organisations on the Northern Economy.

The study will consider the financial and employment impacts of housing organisations in the North, particularly focusing on the 'day-to-day' activity of housing providers, such as repairs, maintenance and housing management.

Commenting on the study, NHC Chief Executive Jo Boaden said, "The Consortium has recognised that it is increasingly important for housing to be able to evidence our economic impact. This innovative project will set out an authoritative evidence base ahead of the next Comprehensive Spending Review."

“We are delighted to be working with Stockport Homes on this exciting project, and we are grateful for their contribution towards the cost of the research.”

Paul Lawless, a Professor of Urban Policy at Sheffield Hallam University, added, “The Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research is excited to be working with the Northern Housing Consortium and Stockport Homes on this project.   The Centre is well placed to work with the NHC on this study as a result of our previous work in this area, such as the evaluation of the national New Deal for Communities programme and similar work with a number of NHC Members.”

 “The study will explore factors not previously consolidated as part of one research project. We will use economic multipliers to capture indirect and induced economic impact that ripple out from expenditure by housing organisations.”

The study will run throughout the year and culminate in a final report to be launched in early 2013.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS: 

Stockport Homes contact: Jane Ratcliff, Marketing & Communications Manager, Stockport Homes,  jane.ratcliff@stockporthomes.org 0161 474 2863. 

Northern Housing Consortium contact:  

Brian Robson, Policy & Strategy Manager, brian.robson@northern-consortium.org.uk, 0191 5661000.

The seven NHC members involved in the study include: Durham City Homes (Durham County Council), Helena Partnerships, Leeds Federated Housing Association, Liverpool Housing Trust, Stockport Homes, St Leger Homes of Doncaster and Wakefield & District Housing. 

The Northern Housing Consortium is a non political, not for distributed profit making Membership organisation. Full Membership is drawn from Local Authorities, Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO’s), Registered Providers (RP’s) and other stakeholder organisations involved in housing from across the three northern regions   of the North East, North West and Yorkshire & Humberside. 

The Northern Housing Consortium’s Members between them manage two thirds of social housing in the North. www.northern-consortium.org.uk 

The Northern Housing Consortium’s main roles are:

-       To provide a comprehensive range of timely, relevant and affordable services for Members.       

-       To take a lead role in enabling the improvement of housing and organisational performance in the North. 

-     To work with Government and other bodies to ensure the region benefits from      the resources and funding available to provide safe, vibrant, sustainable communities. For more information please visit www.northern-consortium.org.uk

The study will be undertaken by professional researchers from the Centre for regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University. CRESR is one of the leading multi-disciplinary University policy research centres in the UK. The Centre for Regional and Economic Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University is one of the UK’s leading academic research centres specialising in social and economic regeneration, housing and labour market analysis. For more information, go to www.shu.ac.uk/cresr.