Ahead of several local elections taking place on 1 May, the Home Builders Federation is calling on the incoming mayors to take bold and immediate action to confront the housing crisis.
Elections are being held in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hull and East Yorkshire, Greater Lincolnshire and the West of England, presenting what the HBF is calling a ‘pivotal moment’ for new mayors to harness the powers granted by the English Devolution Bill and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill as part of the government’s devolution agenda.
The HBF says that these powers have the potential to unlock much-needed housing supply, drive economic growth and enhance the quality of life for local residents.
In response to the significant barriers facing the housebuilding industry, such as planning delays, insufficient first-time buyer support and a lack of bids for Section 106 Affordable Housing units from Registered Providers, the HBF has released a Mayor Manifesto for incoming Combined Authority Mayors that outlines a series of strategic recommendations. The manifesto emphasises the importance of taking immediate action to address housing needs and outlines how mayors can leverage their new powers to drive housing delivery and regional development.
The first priority, outlined in the manifesto, is the immediate preparation of a Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), ahead of government requirements. The HBF says this would avoid unnecessary adoption delays when the legislation passes and that local authorities should also continue to work on their local plans in parallel, ensuring housing needs are met at every level.
The HBF manifesto also encourages mayors to use their full range of powers to accelerate housing delivery. This includes intervening when local councils underperform, using Mayoral Development Corporations or Orders to unlock land and setting up a House Builder Panel to improve communication with developers and tackle challenges directly.
The HBF highlights the need for a more diverse housing mix, calling for mayors to set ambitious targets for small-site developments in locations well-served by public transport and not focus solely on larger planning schemes.
The manifesto also calls for greater flexibility in the provision of affordable housing. With many housing associations unable to commit to acquiring Affordable Housing units from developer-led schemes due to rising costs, the HBF recommends that mayors work with local authorities to allow more flexible tenure mixes and support cascade mechanisms within Section 106 agreements.
The Federation continues to stress the importance of addressing the skills gap in the construction industry and says that mayors should use powers over local education and training to ensure that colleges and training providers are aligned with the needs of the local housing market.
Neil Jefferson, chief executive at the Home Builders Federation, said: “The upcoming local elections are a crucial turning point for tackling the housing crisis. The powers granted through the English Devolution Bill and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill are game changers if used decisively and without delay.”
“This is the moment for incoming mayors to take bold, immediate action and unlock the housing potential of their regions by addressing the barriers to housing, whether it’s planning delays or affordable housing shortages, or the need for greater flexibility in tenure mixes.”
“By taking swift, decisive action now, mayors can deliver the stability, growth, and homes our communities desperately need, all while putting the power to shape the future firmly in their hands.”
