Housing
LGA in homes warning
Up to 165,000 homes could be built without council support if the Government ploughs ahead with controversial planning policy changes, town halls warned today.
Sunak: LGPS should punch its weight
Local government minister Rishi Sunak has said he is determined to ensure the pooling of council pension schemes reaches its ‘full potential’.
Wates chosen for £23m project
Brent LBC has appointed national developer, Wates Residential, to build 149 homes within the borough by December 2021 as part of a new £23m project.
Public practice makes perfect
Sarah Cary says public planners are doing a herculean job, but there simply are not enough of them.
Preventing another tragedy
The report on the Grenfell Tower fire proposes establishing a joint competent authority, comprising local authority building standards, fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive, to manage safety risks in high-rise tower blocks. Hiba Mahamadi reports on its powers to ensure future building safety.
EXCLUSIVE: Ministry considers Right to Buy rule change
Ministers are considering changes to the use of Right to Buy (RtB) receipts amid claims current rules are a ‘shameful cash grab’ by the Government.
Government to raid affordable homes budget to fund cladding removal
The Government’s affordable homes programme will be hit by a Government promise to fund the £400m cost of removing cladding and insulation from tower blocks, The MJ can reveal.
Consensus building around new funding formulae
Consensus is building around a number of service areas for which the sector believes there should be a specific formula after the fair funding review.
Government to fund cost of cladding removal
The Government will fully fund the £400m estimated cost of removing cladding and insulation from tower blocks by councils and housing associations in the wake of the Grenfell fire, the Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed today.
Warwickshire is at the heart of home improvements
A partnership between authorities in Warwickshire is one to watch when it comes to ensuring disabled people get the home improvements they need. Paul Smith explains why.
Ex-Haringey leader Kober to join Pinnacle
Housing group Pinnacle has appointed former Haringey LBC leader Claire Kober as its new director of housing.
Building blocks for change
Sam Clayden talks to Leeds City Council’s Richard Lewis about the strides being made within housebuilding and regeneration in a rapidly evolving city.
A new approach to joined-up planning
Philip Atkins calls for a county-wide perspective on housing and planning policy.
Scots cash boost for more affordable homes
The Scottish government is to provide an extra £35m to local councils in order to fund the building of more affordable homes this year than originally envisaged.
Future Forum: LGA to push for place-based EU funding replacement
The Local Government Association (LGA) will push for a place-based replacement for EU funding after Brexit, Smith Square’s chief executive has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Whitehall grabs £875m Right to Buy receipts
Labour has demanded immediate Right to Buy (RTB) reforms after figures obtained by The MJ revealed the amount councils lose to Whitehall under the regime.
Home and dry?
As the housing crisis increasingly becomes a political battleground, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, John Healey, plans to put councils at the heart of the solution. Heather Jameson reports.
Labour outlines housing policy
Labour would scrap right to buy, and give councils new borrowing freedoms and central funding in a bid to kick-start house building, the party said today.
Council signs joint venture agreement to deliver 500 homes
Hertfordshire CC has signed a joint venture agreement with developers Morgan Sindall Investments to deliver an estimated 500 new properties.
MHCLG refuses to publish Brexit analysis
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has refused to publish its analysis of the impact of Brexit.