A grand vision of a massively expanded housing association sector playing a leading role in the much-vaunted urban renaissance was set out this week
In a call to arms to associations, Housing Corporation chief executive Anthony Mayer challenged associations to have the "courage, wit and enthusiasm" to take on a wider role, including private sector stock.

Announcing a £4.5m programme to demolish and rehabilitate some 7,000 run-down private sector units, Mayer called diversification into private stock a 'huge opportunity'.

Under the plan, some 7,000 properties in four pilots - North Tyneside, Manchester, Bolton and Rochdale - will be renovated. Altogether 125 properties could be demolished.

Speaking at the National Housing Federation development conference in Coventry, Mayer, who is also Urban Task Force deputy chair said ministers were looking to associations as the "engine of regeneration".

And he argued that much greater public funding could be available if they took up the challenge offered by the task force report.

Signalling a more flexible attitude to taking on new risks, Mayer said associations should not be afraid to make mistakes.

"If the risk doesn't work out it doesn't mean to say you are a bad person, and it doesn't mean to say the activity is wrong. It means you gave it your best shot and it didn't work out," he said.

National Housing Federation director of investment and resources Alistair Jackson said: "This is an important early sign that the Corporation is serious about being flexible. Instead of being prescriptive they seem to be saying what are the housing issues here and how can we use our resources to help?"

Chartered Institute of Housing director of policy John Perry said direct assistance of owner-occupiers by housing associations would be breaking new ground.

Source

Housing Today