Agenda item

The board considered a report of the Director of Housing and Regeneration that provided an update and clear direction of travel on the ongoing work of the WMCA and housing association partners to establish a more comprehensive collective approach to the delivery of affordable housing across the region- a key deliverable for the Housing and Land Delivery Board in 2022/23.

The report also sought endorsement for the work underway to develop an innovative pilot approach with a small group of Housing Associations based on packaged land disposal. It was noted that affordable housing was part of the set of deliverables for the Housing and Land Board.

A report outlining the WMCA definition of affordable housing (currently under review) which was endorsed by this board in January 2020 was circulated with the papers for information.

Councillor Mackiewicz considered the affordable housing definition was difficult to determine from the documents circulated and asked for it to be made clearer if possible. He also advised that Solihull Officers thought the Help to Own Scheme does not meet certain national affordability criteria and would like WMCA Officers to check this.

The Director of Housing and Regeneration, Gareth Bradford reported that he understood the Help to Own Scheme in Wolverhampton, meets the WMCA definition of affordable and the NPPF definition but would check on this and confirm the position with the board.

The board received a presentation from the Strategic Planning Manager, Rob Lamond that provided an update on work being undertaken to update the affordable housing definition for the WMCA, progress made with housing associations on affordable housing delivery,  the  objectives of the pilot package and next steps.

Councillor Simkins reported that Wolverhampton has established a housing forum and would like the Combined Authority to work with the forum. He considered that the WMCA should work with ALMOs/local authorities to improve housing and make it affordable so as to allow people to remain in their local area, noting that Birmingham City Council has the biggest local authority housing stock in the country.

Gareth Bradford reported that the WMCA was engaging with Wolverhampton Living in Wolverhampton, Birmingham Municipal Trust amongst other organisations and some non-constituent authorities. Rob Lamond advised that he would look to analyse the NPPF and WMCA’s affordable housing definitions with regards to people staying within their locality.

In relation to the proposed pilot package, Councillor Welsh enquired whether the sites for affordable housing have already been determined as he noted the report referred to new homes being located adjacent to a Metro station and a new hospital which did not apply to Coventry. He asked that officers be open and honest with regards to any sites identified.

The Chair reported that the sites could be revealed if they were in the public domain.

The Director of Housing and Regeneration advised that the sites have not yet been confirmed; the report set out the criteria for the proposed pilot package that was based on a couple of likely sites which was an error, as the criteria should determine the sites.

Councillor Welsh confirmed he was satisfied with this approach and asked for the revised criteria be re-submitted to the board.

Councillor Mackiewicz asked that consideration be given to a strict definition of key workers with regards to housing support and noted the WMCA needs to press on with Net Zero given the current situation with Russia and Ukraine.

The Chair concurred with the need for a wider definition of key workers that was not restricted to NHS workers.

The Director of Housing and Regeneration reported that it is up to each local authority to determine its definition of key workers, but he was happy for the WMCA to look at setting the principles for a definition.

The board discussed the role of council housing in affordable housing and the need for local authorities to be provided with funding to enable them to renew housing stock. The issue of viability with regards to housing associations that requires them to keep taking on more housing stock over time was also noted.

The Director of Housing and Regeneration advised that estate renewal is not an output identified by Government although he was hoping that the Levelling Up Fund would support wider place making. He added that a new officer group had been set up with regards to Levelling Up that could look at estate renewal.

In relation to viability with regards to the NPPF clause, the Director of Housing and Regeneration advised that he would look to put together some points on this issue for the next meeting.

Resolved:

1. The positive progress with the work taking place under the Housing and Land Board to improve the collaboration and co-investment in the region between housing associations and the WMCA to secure more social and affordable housing to meet local needs be welcomed and endorsed;

2. This collaboration is part of a broad package of affordable housing measures and initiatives being progressed under the Housing and Land Portfolio be noted and

3. The specific work taking place on the new innovative joint approach with a group of housing associations in the region to deliver additional affordable housing and wider socio-economic outcomes on WMCA land be welcomed and endorsed.