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Short on time? Wednesday’s housing news in five minutes
A round-up of the top stories this morning from Inside Housing and elsewhere
Top story: Greater Manchester in talks to create ‘devolved strategic partnership’ with Homes England
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is looking to establish a strategic partnership with Homes England that would give the body local control of funding.
The GMCA’s housing strategy implementation plan said a strategic partnership approach could “fairly” allocate funds locally and help build 50,000 additional affordable homes.
So far the nature of the proposed strategic partnership has not been detailed in full.
A spokesperson for the GMCA said: “We [and Homes England] share ambitions to accelerate delivery of truly affordable and market housing, unlock public land and prioritise brownfield sites.”
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Right to Buy discounts worth £5bn since 2012, says LGA
Council tenants have received Right to Buy discounts worth almost £5bn in the past eight years, according to analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA).
The group claimed that the future of the scheme is “uncertain” unless councils are given powers to set their own discount rates and retain 100% of the cash from sales.
David Renard, housing spokesperson for the LGA, claimed it was wrong to have the same rates across the county and said: “Without reform of the scheme, future generations will not enjoy the same opportunity.”
Lunchtime long read
Picture: Rex Features
After weeks of intense flooding in the UK, concern is growing among social landlords regarding how to mitigate risks when building.
Here, Jess McCabe, deputy editor (features), finds out whether the sector is taking the right steps to protect homes against future floods.
Quote of the day
“There is a particular problem in the charity sector, where it is fair to say that the standards of governance and leadership are at best variable. Most critically, perhaps, regulation is distant.”
Greg Campbell, partner at Campbell Tickell, talks through the problems with poor practice in the charity sector.
In the papers
Picture: Getty
The BBC reports that residents in a block of 90 flats in Stratford, east London, were forced to use outdoor showers due to repair works happening in the building.Tenants spoke of the “humiliating” experience while tenant management company One Housing said it has apologised “unreservedly”.
The architect of the Grenfell Tower refurbishment has admitted he did not read building regulations aimed at preventing cladding fires and had no idea that panels used to insulate buildings could be combustible, The Guardian reports.
Local news
Picture: Getty
Waltham Forest and Redbridge councils will increase rent for tenants for the first time in four years. Both councils will increase the rent by 2.7% – the maximum allowed by government, reports the East London and West Essex Guardian.
A 300-home development in Dundonald, Northern Ireland, has been given the go ahead despite objections from residents, writes Belfast Live. More than 200 people objected to the development, which will create 293 new homes, but the council’s panning committee voted seven to one in favour of the project.
Around the sector
Picture left to right: Justin Catton, head of operations at ENGIE; Paul Bingham, regional director at ENGIE; Michelle Cook, cabinet member for housing services and communities at Tamworth Borough Council; and Tom Langley, divisional director at Wates Living Space
Tamworth Borough Council has awarded new contracts worth more than £100m for the improvement, repair and maintenance of more than 4,200 council houses in the town over the next 10 years.
This significant investment is part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide a high standard of affordable housing, supported by an efficient repairs and maintenance service, while achieving the best possible value for money.
The council’s current three-year contract with Wates Living Space ends on March 31 and the new 10-year agreement will be split into two parts.
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