Housing and Regeneration David Warburton Area Director for South West England The Homes and Communities Agency

Context Creation of the Homes and Communities Agency on 1 December 2008 combines the major housing and regeneration pots; RFA is critical for our ‘single conversation’ over the integrated use of our own resources: ~ the Regional Housing Pot; ~ EPs’ regeneration programme, and the ability to investment in, and bring forward, land and infrastructure; ~ the Growth Point Fund; ~Decent Homes (social housing sector); ~Gypsies and Travellers; ~private sector renewal in RFA, not HCA.

Context also how we then integrate our own resources with those of others around established regional priorities to deliver higher impact outcomes for a similar level of resource; part of this is also identifying impediments to integration; the driver underpinning the combining of housing regeneration investment is ensuring integration occurs in such a way so as support the continuation/creation of sustainable communities; and also recognising when not to ‘force’ integration.

Investment – what’s at stake Profile of housing and regeneration (Homes and Communities Agency) investment in the South West: £1.1 billion in , mainly committed but some flexibility? ~ £711 million on affordable housing, 18,500 affordable homes; £1.6 billion (indicative) in 2011 to 2015; £1.75 billion (indicative) in 2015 to 2019.

Investment Focus The Homes and Communities Agency’s housing and regeneration investment is directed towards the following key place-based interventions in the South West: Delivering significant housing growth, particularly in Growth Points and SSCTs; Achieving regeneration, building and revitalising communities by tackling multiple deprivation and bringing derelict land back into active use;

Investment Focus: providing affordable homes as part of both of growth and regeneration, to achieve a diverse population so as to underpin and enable economic growth; The focus is beginning to sharpen in rural areas as we begin to better understand what sustainability means in the rural context.

Carrick, Kerrier and Restormel West of England Partnership Growth Points in the SW (as defined by CLG) Regeneration Investment: Top 20% IMDs/Growth Points

Regeneration Investment: Brownfield Land/Growth Points RFA West of England Partnership Carrick, Kerrier and Restormel Growth Points in the SW (as defined by CLG)

RFA Affordable Housing Investment :

Defining Rural Sustainability: Responsive Investment

Investment Focus: Non-place based in addition to a place-based approach, a specific focus on allocating housing investment based on needs: To meet housing need in locations outside of growth areas or areas identified for regeneration; providing for various client groups – homeless people, the elderly, gypsies and travellers. Examples in rural areas.

Top Quartile Least Affordable RFA West of England Partnership Carrick, Kerrier and Restormel Growth Points in the SW (as defined by CLG)

Affordable Housing Investment: Rural

Rural Surplus Public Sector Land Regeneration Pilot

Some Choices Difficult market for housing and regeneration – maintain programme, and raise outputs, including affordable homes from 6,000 to 10,000 per annum; Re-allocation of Social Housing Grant to invest differently to support wider regeneration programmes by bringing forward affordable housing in other ways (and delivering other uses and activities); bring forward investment to cashflow, capture value, re-invest? - Infrastructure, land acquisition, public-private (inc. RSLs) delivery vehicles;

Some Choices Focus on easier wins to achieve affordable homes outputs and regeneration outcomes? - investment in affordable housing increased from 80% to 86% in the previous period, with a corresponding decrease in private sector renewal, so as to maintain outputs; should we invest differently in linked and related rural settlements, to enable sustainability to be improved whilst contributing to the growth agenda?

Some Choices Decent Homes (3% of the housing pot) ends 2010 –should this then be directed towards other local authority estate renewal and regeneration? do we/how do we maintain tenure diversification when demand is falling – 70%/30% rent to homebuy at present?

Some Choices demographics – particularly our ageing population - what sort of urban fabric should we create through regeneration investment, and what form of homes will this client group demand? How serious are we about the CSH and environmental agenda in terms of where and how we target investment – should we invest in initially more expensive, but ultimately more sustainable environments?

Fundamental Question Do we march under a single banner, and then this is what shapes all investment and activity in the Region?

What’s Next? All encompassing letter to local authorities; Welcome specific comments and case studies direct; Combined Housing and Regeneration Forum in November.