Archives for August 2007
Mayor invited to assess Wandsworth’s Hidden Homes
Wandsworth council has invited one of its network partners, the mayor of London, to visit the latest phase of its council housebuilding programme, it has announced.
It has proffered the invitation as part of its attempts to foster new approaches to addressing the capital’s affordable housing difficulties.
People looking for housing jobs may be interested in news from the local authority, which claims to be at the forefront of the development of new building methods and the conversion of disused spaces.
The Hidden Homes project has seen 136 new social rented homes sourced for residents in the area.
Cabinet member for housing Martin Johnson said: “This is a cost-effective and sustainable way of building new homes which could work in other parts of the capital.
“We are happy to share our ideas and expertise with others. We know how to identify potential sites and we are experienced in devising suitable packages of works.”
He said that the mayor’s role would be in unlocking funding to make the project one of London’s sustainable efficiencies, by accessing funding for other boroughs to become involved.
Nearly half of all new council homes completed in the capital during 2006 are to be found in Wandsworth, the council states.
Earlier this month the council announced that the keys to a Battersea home had been handed to a tenant for the first time – the result of a Hidden Homes project undertaken by the council and network partnersNotting Hill Housing Group.
Local Authorities helped to combat ‘rogue landlords’
Local authorities across the UK have recently been surveyed to assess their performance in identifying and dealing with unlicensed houses with multiple occupancy (HMOs), it has been reported.
According to the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors), councils have received a total of 22,314 applications from landlords operating licensable HMOs, which are home to over 111,570 tenants.
In news that may be of interest to those seeking housing jobs, around 86 per cent of local authorities have already adopted a number of tools intended to identify HMOs being operated illegally.
Additionally, 95 per cent of councils are network partners with other local authorities, using their links to push forward best practice.
Emma Van Field, spokesperson for Lacors, said: “Lacors is also setting out a tool kit for local authorities to help them highlight and identify where the unlicensed HMOs are – and then what to do with them once they’ve found them with various enforcement tools and the powers that they have.”
Set up in 1978, Lacors was created to coordinate the enforcement of trading standards operations.
Number of new builds ‘increasing in England
During the last eight years the number of new build houses in England has been steadily increasing, according to recently released government figures.
In news likely to interest those seeking jobs in the housing industry or ther network partners in construction, since 2000-01 new build starts have risen by a full 19 per cent and completions have gone up by 26 per cent.
Starts in 2000-01 stood at 141,700, compared to 168,800 in the year leading up to June 2007. And completions came up from being at 129,900 in 2001/02 to 168,200 in the 12 months till June of this year.
In the last, year completions have risen by two per cent. However, in the north-west and south-east where levels were high, the amount of starts has dropped substantially recently.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Housing Corporation, Peter Dixon, has seen his second term extended by almost two years.
Communities Minister, Baroness Andrews, said: “I am very pleased that Peter Dixon has agreed to remain at the helm of the Housing Corporation in the run up to the new homes agency.”
The Housing Corporation is responsible for funding affordable new homes for social housing.
More about network partners
Organisations ‘need innovative solutions’ to KLOEs
Any housing organisations undergoing inspection by the Audit Commission are being encouraged to develop new ways of pursuing key lines of enquiry (KLOEs), it has been stated today.
The commission has reported that it is changing the documentation available to housing organisations, providing suggestions about the ways in which the groups can address KLOEs – and making clear what is required by inspectors before they will provide a ‘fair’ or ‘excellent’ rating.
Roy Irwin, chief inspector of housing at the Audit Commission, said: “KLOEs are widely recognised as useful tools which have helped organisations to improve their services and we update them regularly to make them as relevant and as user-friendly as possible.”
He added that, while descriptors provided by the commission were useful, housing associations should be approaching the KLOEs from their own perspective and establishing innovative solutions.
Yesterday, the Audit Commission published a report on Newcastle City Council, stating that while it had made progress, work remained to be done in its deprived areas.
Eco-village shortlist announced
A project to construct the country’s first eco-village has taken a step forward with the announcement of a shortlist of developers.
Those interested in planning jobs and roles in the housing sector may be interested to read the latest news from English Partnerships, which states that seven developers are in the running to create the 150-home site in Bristol.
The national regeneration agency has reported the results of an evaluation panel, including network partners from Communities and Local Government and the Building Research Establishment, which selected developers based on their understanding both of the potential of the site and of the sustainable efficiencies of the Carbon Challenge.
David Warburton, English Partnerships’ area director for the south-west, said: “There is a wealth of talent and specialist knowledge within the seven shortlisted companies and I am excited about the prospect of working with one of them to deliver England’s first Carbon Challenge community in Bristol.”
A similar initiative for an eco-village near Peterborough is set to get underway next year.
Recently, English Partnerships announced the approval of plans for a monastery housing scheme in Gorton, east Manchester.
More about network partners.
Denbighshire gets social housing boost
Some £9 million has been awarded to the county council in Denbighshire today through a social housing grant, it has emerged.
The Welsh Assembly funding will be spent over the next two years on the construction of more affordable housing for the region, with involvement from a number of local housing associations.
Denbighshire County Council said the money will also go towards an additional care scheme for older people and the development of dwellings for people in recovery from substance or alcohol misuse.
Speaking after the announcement, councillor Pauline Dobb – who is also a Cabinet lead member – said: “This is fantastic news. It will give a huge boost to Denbighshire’s highly successful affordable housing policy and will make a real difference to local families.”
The region of Denbighshire is a county in north Wales with a population of approximately 96,000.
Tailoring of services at Westminster ’strong’
Westminster council has received praise today for its recent performance, with assessors recognising its efforts to address the needs of the whole community and of individual neighbourhoods.
A report published this morning by the Audit Commission gives the council an ‘excellent’ rating for its comprehensive performance assessment, while the corporate assessment team found “clear and challenging” ambitions for the city.
Les Kidner, Audit Commission relationship manager, said: “Westminster is performing strongly. The council has made real improvements for the quality of life of its residents.
“Crime is reducing. The streets are kept at a high level of cleanliness. The health of the community is improving. People are being helped into employment. Educational attainment is improving. These are all areas of key importance for the community.”
Aside from getting people into jobs, making use of talent pools and otherwise improving their quality of life, the council has been praised for “highly effective” internal and external communications.
In separate reports, the Audit Commission found that Hampshire county council and Hertfordshire county council are also both performing well.
More about talent pools
Watch out for cowboy builders, flood victims told
In the wake of some of the worst flooding Britain has seen this century, homeowners have been warned to be on their guard against cowboy builders when repairing damage.
Communities secretary Hazel Blears issued the caution as she expanded on how the government will aid the hardest-hit communities.
The flooding has caused over £6 billion worth of damage, with much of the worst being confined to Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
Ms Blears said: “Whilst the flooding may have receded, the damage to homes and businesses remains.
“While the vast majority of people, including the building industry, are responding positively to the challenge it is extremely saddening that some people are trying to cash-in and exploit the hardship of others.”
Such actions are “deplorable” and should be reported immediately, Ms Blears added.
Citizens can go to the National Federation of Builders and the Federation of Master Builders for free advice on repairs to their homes.
Meanwhile, after a severe storm, New York City has also been hit by floods, bringing a halt to the city’s subway system.
Housing 21 scheme reaches awards shortlist
The organisers of an affordable housing scheme for the elderly in Suffolk are celebrating today following the announcement that the Mere View scheme has been shortlisted for two accolades at the 2007 Affordable Home Ownership Awards.
Housing 21 has overseen the development of Mere View, a complex of 32 one and two-bedroomed homes purpose-built for those requiring care in retirement.
The scheme, on which the Housing Corporation and mid-Suffolk district council were also network partners, has been shortlisted both for Best Large Development and Best Designed Scheme at the awards.
Facilities available at the site for residents include a hair-dressing salon and cafe – both of which are also open for use by the general public.
In April, Housing 21 announced that two of its home care staff had been granted prestigious Ceretas National Home Care Awards while under its talent management, recognising their efforts in forging links between colleagues and the community.
More about network partners