Solving the housing crisis

Ep 8 - Telford Living

In episode eight, Alexandra Murphy [https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/alexandra-murphy/], a principal associate in our real estate team, is joined by Dan Curtis, vice president - development investment at Telford Living. What’s been blocking housebuilding to date? Dan shares his thoughts: * Investor sentiment has been low since the Budget at the end of 2022, impacting new housing. * Inflation also makes it harder to deliver what’s needed. * The regulatory regime after Grenfell has left an unclear position. * The international supply chain, such as Ukraine and the Middle East, has affected how businesses can deliver to time and budget. Dan’s wishes to the government would be to have: * A resilient supply chain. * Properly resourced regulatory bodies and planning departments. * Tax breaks, especially for green homes. * More consistent grants nationwide, this will help to unlock unviable land. * Take the politics out of planning! Our content explained Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.

Ep 7 - OakNorth Bank

In episode seven, Andy King [https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/andy-king/], a real estate finance lawyer at Mills & Reeve, speaks to Dale Cowdell and Mike Tierney, directors at OakNorth Bank, who provide debt finance to housebuilders.   Dale and Mike share their views on: * Blockers, including how social housing providers are finding that stretched budgets (due to remedial works required post-Grenfell) are diverting funds away from building new housing, and how Right to Buy has reduced their stock, while waiting lists keep growing. * The economic changes they’d like to see to stimulate housebuilding. This includes reduction in the Bank of England base rate to reduce the cost of borrowing, tax breaks for housebuilders with a strong track record in delivering new homes, and the expansion of the Housing Group Partnership for good reliable housebuilders, potentially looking to guaranteeing their loan/equity. * The changes they’d like to make to the permitted development regime, such as a more positive attitude from planning committees. Our content explained Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.

Ep 6 - Birchgrove

In episode six, Victoria Hughes-Barker [https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/victoria-hughes-barker/], knowledge lawyer in the real estate team, speaks to Marcus Hodges, chief operating officer at Birchgrove, about senior living as a solution to the housing crisis. With 2/3 of over 65’s having 2 empty bedrooms on average, Marcus discusses whether improving availability of and access to senior living options could free up existing homes to the market – benefiting the environment – and assisting with the housing crisis. Marcus’s key points for the new housing minister: * Normalise senior living as a supportive, stress-free option for over-65s, similar to the US and New Zealand. * Address regulatory burdens to allow more focus on resident care and provide certainty to ensure timely, budget-friendly development.Give senior living a voice and increase recognition and understanding of senior living’s community benefits – they aren’t care homes! Our content explained Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.

Ep 5 - Strategic Land Group

In episode five, Graham Collier [https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/graham-collier], development lawyer at Mills & Reeve, speaks to Paul Smith, managing director at Strategic Land Group. Speaking from the point of view of a promoter, Paul considers how the broader planning system and processes involved with it (including the adoption of local plans) have reduced the number of housing developments being brought forward – and where the current proposals leave us. While the plans are a definite positive step forward, there are a number of areas where further information will be necessary in order to understand exactly how they will work, and whether they go far enough, with Paul’s wish list including: * Detail around transitional arrangements for moving to the new proposed housing target calculations. * More information on Brownfield Passports – which could help to unlock planning on sites where certain criteria are met. * Proposals which ensure landowners are sufficiently incentivised when benchmarking land values, so they don’t stop bringing land forward. * The planning system being fine-tuned and streamlined, removing unnecessary barriers for bringing proposals forward (for example with outline planning), and taking the burden off local authority planning departments. * Plans for reinvigorating the local plan system, so that they’re adopted more quickly – and pushing on with national development management policies. Our content explained Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.

Ep 4 - Lord Matthew Taylor

In episode four, Caroline Hanratty [https://www.mills-reeve.com/people/caroline-hanratty/], development partner at Mills & Reeve, speaks to Lord Matthew Taylor, who is best known for having authored the Living Working Countryside Review in 2008, which led to the NPPF and to neighbourhood planning. He was later asked to lead the creation of the NPPG and originated the Garden Communities programme. Hear Matthew’s views on: * The origins of our current housing crisis. * The positive steps from the new Government (including the reversal of nimbyism policies). * The bold changes he’d like to see in terms of county level strategic plans, garden villages and making it easier to acquire land at low cost. Our content explained Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.