London-based associations were particularly successful this year. Of the top 25 allocations, 19 went to London-based associations. Last year 14 of the top 25 were London-based.
Most of the big gainers this year were also London-based. Circle 33 housing trust more than doubled its allocation to £16.9m. Ujima, Network, and West Hampstead also received significantly higher allocations than last year.
Northern Counties HA, by contrast, recorded one of the biggest reductions in grant - down from £10.2m last year to £5.6m this year.
For the first time in recent years North British HA did not receive the highest allocation. That prize went to London and Quadrant housing trust which, together with Tower HA, its shared ownership subsidiary, received £31.5m - an increase of £12.6m on the year before.
Average total scheme costs on mixed funded schemes for rent rose by 19 per cent from £29,132 to £34,788.
The sharp increase is believed to reflect higher land and construction costs and an increase in more expensive brown field development.
The concentration of grant amongst fewer associations is likely to be caused by the tougher rent caps imposed by the corporation. Many associations are thought to have subsidised bids with their own resources in order to meet the rent caps.
National Housing Federation policy director Liz Potter said: "The allocation reflects housing need, but future investment needs to take into account the regeneration needs of communities in deprived areas of the north as well as housing needs in the south."
Source
Housing Today
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