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Bespoke Housing Deals discussions resumed 06/07/2017

As reported in the previous bulletin, discussions regarding the government's proposals for Bespoke Housing Deals have resumed following the General Election.

 

Following a meeting with Housing Minister Gavin Barwell in November, at which ARCH argued the case for increased flexibilities in HRA funding to enable councils to build, the idea of "Bespoke Housing Deals" was outlined in the Housing White Paper and was further underlined in the Conservative Party Manifesto which promised that a Conservative Government would: "enter into new Council Housing Deals with ambitious, pro-development local authorities to help them build more social housing".

 

Discussions to date with DCLG officials have been based around proposals from three "pathfinder" organisations (Sheffield City Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newark and Sherwood Homes) and a further meeting was held with DCLG on 30 June.

 

Details of the proposals were discussed at this meeting and further ongoing work was agreed. The next meeting with DCLG has been scheduled for early September. It is not anticipated that any formal announcements on the general framework and conditions for Bespoke Housing Deals will be made until the Autumn - possibly in advance of or in conjunction with the Autumn Budget Statement.

 

We will keep members advised as these discussions progress. In the meantime any ARCH member interested in pursuing the option of entering a Bespoke Housing Deal are encouraged to contact John Bibby, ARCH chief executive at john.bibby@arch-housing.org.uk.

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