In his last column as chief executive of Barratt Redrow, David Thomas outlines some ways of boosting housebuilding while reminding us why it is important
Change is definitely in the air. This is my last op-ed in before I hand over the reins to Dean Banks at the end of September. And by the time you read this we will have a new Prime Minister too.
The noises coming from Andy Burnham are that housing will remain a priority for government, and that he will oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war era. The rumours about bringing back support for first-time buyers are also positive.
As the country’s largest housebuilder, we are also one of the biggest builders of affordable homes, delivering around 20% of the homes we build annually – c 3,800 this year.
It is unclear if the boost in council or social housing will come from the £39bn Social and Affordable Housing Programme, through Section 106, or a new fund or mechanism. For us, Section 106 is an effective and efficient way to deliver new affordable homes and mixed communities - but there are ways to improve it.
One simple step is to bring housebuilders, housing associations and councils together earlier to improve the Section 106 process. This happens really well in Scotland and some regional pockets, but definitely not everywhere. Instead, this should be the norm. Better co-ordination of what is needed and how it could be delivered would make a big difference.
It is unclear if the boost in council or social housing will come from the £39bn Social and Affordable Housing Programme, through Section 106, or a new fund or mechanism
Another is to ensure that housing associations are financially supported better and the funding is there to support Section 106 purchases. More flexibility in the Social and Affordable Housing Programme would be a gamechanger.
But while we talk about building homes, we must remember why the work that the whole housing sector does is so important.
We have recently joined a campaign called 165,000 Reasons, to raise awareness of the number of children growing up in temporary accommodation.
Across England the stark reality is that over 165,000 children do not have a stable place to call home. Worryingly, since the campaign was started last year, that number has continued to rise and now stands at over 176,000 and rising by more than 10,000 per year – equivalent to one more child, every hour.
No child should live in temporary accommodation for extended periods, and tackling this challenge requires government, housing providers, businesses and charities to work together on practical solutions that deliver lasting change.
This means building more homes, of all types and tenures, so that we can support people when they need it the most – or better yet prevent the worst from happening at all.
No child should live in temporary accommodation for extended periods, and tackling this challenge requires government, housing providers, businesses and charities to work together
Last year, our Barratt Redrow Foundation set up a dedicated homelessness fund, providing £1 million over three years to support young people who are already homeless or at risk of homelessness. This provides unrestricted funding to seven fantastic organisations across the UK who working on the front lines of youth homelessness prevention.
Across the industry we all have such an important role to play in shaping the future of housing – whether that is council, affordable, private market, or indeed support for those who are homeless. After all, we all need somewhere to call home.
David Thomas is chief executive of Barratt Redrow
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