Round up of NaCSBA’s key activities carried out in November:
Right to Build Expo
This month NaCSBA has been hard at work organising the Right to Build Expo- which is set to be attended by many local authority delegates, land owners, planners and custom build professionals.
With the Right to Build now in full force, the event taking place at The Building Centre, London on 8th December 2016 will discuss and explore what the new legislation means for the future of self and custom build in the UK.The Expo is free to attend and willoffer insight for the industry and for councils as they prepare to meet the demand for serviced plots within the next three years.
The event is split into two parts:Persuading the buying public to custom and self buildandDelivering custom and self build serviced plots at pace;there will also be a lunchtime workshop led by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) looking at the Home Building Fund, and throughout the day there will be the opportunity to take part in Ask the Expert sessions, meaning that attendees can get expert one-to-one help on implementing the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Regulations 2016. Click here forbooking information>>
Meeting at 10 Downing Street
Prior to the Autumn Statement,NaCSBA Chair Michael Holmes visited Downing Street to meet Teresa Mays senior policy team – John Godfrey, Will Tanner and Jamie Cowling. At the meeting NaCSBA presented on how self and custom build can help turn around the housing market, discussed the demand for self and custom building in the UKandoutlinedwhat further action the Government could take to boost growth in the sector.
Number 10 were keen to have a meeting ahead of the publication of the Housing White Paper, which was originally set to be release with the Autumn Statement, but is now expectedto be released before the end of the year.
Work with the DCLG
NaCSBA has agreed to join with DCLG in a series of presentations based at the Right to Build Vanguard Authorities. These presentations are intended to assist Local Authority Planners to understand the different options for implementing the Right to Build.The presentations will continue to take place throughout December and January.
In addition, NaCSBA wasinvited to contribute to the evidence session for the DCLGEnquiry into the Capacity of theHousebuilding Industry on November 21st. NaCSBA Chair Michael Holmes was in attendance as was NaCSBA member Chris Brown of Igloo, who prepared a written submission for the session.
Work with the National Audit Office
Richard Bacon MP and NaCSBA Chair Michael Holmesrecently metwith Sir Amyas Morse, the Controllerand Auditor General of The National Audit Office- who’srole is to scrutinise public spending for parliament.Discussions were held onhow public spend on housing could be used more efficiently if the custom and self build sector were larger, as in so many other developed economies, and therefore the volume of new homes being built each year would be significantly higher, increasing supply and ultimately influencing house prices and rents.
The NAO is currently preparing a housing landscape report that reviewspublic spending on housing.They NAO willreport on housing supply and the challenges on capacity, and will include information on the custom and self buildsector. The report will be used toinfluence future public spending by the DCLG to support the custom and self buildsector.
