Housing policy has had a regional voice since 1999 through regional housing statements. In most areas, these are produced by government offices for the regions and Housing Corporation regional offices in consultation with stakeholders. Consultation is generally carried out through regional housing forums or partnerships. In some areas, the regional housing statements are evolving into regional housing strategies, as proposed in the recent white paper Your Region, Your Choice. Other proposals include enhancing the role of existing regional bodies.
Assemblies not guaranteed
But directly elected regional assemblies will only be set up where a referendum demonstrates support. It is proposed that housing, along with regeneration, transport, planning, economic development and tourism, will become the responsibility of elected assemblies. The recent planning green paper, Delivering a Fundamental Change, recommends a new role for RPG. Translated into "regional spatial strategies", it will have full development plan status.
Housing professionals underestimate the importance of the planning system at their peril. Every new affordable home requires planning permission and creating the right planning policy framework is fundamental to future delivery. RPG is relevant in providing:
- the long-term spatial framework for the regional development agency's economic strategy, the regional housing strategy and the quantum and distribution of funding
- the overall quantum and distribution of housing provision for the region
- the key strategic issues local authorities must take into account when preparing development plans for their area
- a fulcrum for integrating approaches to creating sustainable communities.
The West Midlands is diverse but I feel strongly that its draft RPG has not properly grasped the importance of affordable housing as a strategic issue affecting the region as a whole. It also flies in the face of recent government-sponsored research highlighting the failure to apply PPG3 in the region to deliver additional provision, despite evidence that recent delivery has run at only about 15% of overall housing provision.
At the West Midlands examination, I argued for enhanced policies on mixed communities and affordable housing, including indicative figures against which long-term social progress could be monitored.
The debate did reveal encouraging signs that planning, housing and economic development officers are beginning to develop common regional and subregional understanding, particularly on urban renaissance. The Government Office, the Regional Housing Partnership, the RDA, the Housing Corporation and the LGA all seem fully committed to working in partnership.
But questions remain as to which of these organisations is going to take the lead and how the private sector can be fully engaged. Furthermore, who is to be accountable? The prospect of elected regional assemblies may not be so remote as has been widely assumed.
Source
Housing Today
Postscript
Robin Tetlow is managing director of Tetlow King Planning
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