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In FocusKey takeaways and talking points from the Housing Community Summit 2025
From the departure of Rayner and the rise of Reform, to boosting skills, new funding models and decent homes, attendees at this year’s Housing Community Summit were not short of topics to talk about. Here are the key talking points from Liverpool
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In FocusWhat does the appointment of Steve Reed as new housing secretary mean for the sector?
Angela Rayner’s replacement held the shadow housing brief in 2021 and now he returns to the role in government. But although he has promised to ‘build, baby, build’, Reed lacks the influence on Keir Starmer that his predecessor had
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In FocusThe Reform party conference: what a Farage government would mean for housing, investment and ‘net-stupid-zero’
Despite being largely overshadowed by the resignation of Angela Rayner, the two-day event in Birmingham showed a party which is evolving from a protest group into an organisation that is seriously preparing for government. Tom Lowe looks at what a country led by Nigel Farage would mean for housing
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In Focus‘Not just transactions’: Richard Blakeway explains how he wants to work with the sector to ensure complaints are a catalyst for real change
The Housing Ombudsman talks to Carl Brown about his drive for transparency and shared learning and tackling the ‘twin demons of denial and deflection’ in the sector.
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In FocusThe plan to cut the gateway 2 backlog: Key points from Tuesday’s parliamentary hearings on the BSR
This week saw an unusual amount of scrutiny of the Building Safety Regulator, with committees in both the Commons and the Lords examining the issue. Daniel Gayne watched the debates to find out where the troubled institution is headed
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In FocusThe housing sector was delighted with the spending review – but lack of transport investment could scupper its delivery in London
After setting out a vision for development centred on public transit links, the mayor of London came out of the spending review empty handed. Can London build 88,000 homes a year without new infrastructure? Daniel Gayne reports.
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In FocusWho is Amy Rees? Everything you need to know about new Homes England chief
MHCLG’s pick to lead the government’s delivery agency came out of left field. So what do we know about the new quango boss? And what does her appointment tell us about Homes England’s future?
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In FocusAhead of a £1.5bn development, Populo Living shares its plan to boost regeneration in Newham
In 2018, a new mayor tasked Newham’s housing company with building more affordable homes. Seven years later, its getting ready for its biggest scheme yet. Daniel Gayne headed east to find out more.
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In FocusNansledan: can design codes and long-term stewardship deliver better housing?
Mary Richardson visits Nansledan, the Duchy of Cornwall’s urban extension to Newquay. While its traditional architecture divides opinion, she finds that the project raises important questions about planning and designing new housing at scale
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In Focus‘The sector now feels a sense of responsibility to play its part’ – Gavin Smart on the blizzard of policies announced in the past few weeks
The Chartered Institute of Housing chief executive reflects on the sector’s to-do list for the next few months. Carl Brown reports
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In Focus‘We brought Livv back from the brink of destruction’…Léann Hearne on personal and professional challenges and what comes next
The CEO of Livv Group announced in April that she was stepping down in response to a series of “personal challenges” involving her family. She tells Matilda Battersby about her journey
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In FocusIs the government’s Building Safety Regulator shake-up enough to fix the delays?
The government has promised to speed up approvals for high-rise residential schemes which have been languishing for up to a year in the new building safety regime. With patience running out and costs mounting, Tom Lowe speaks to the people caught up in the delays
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In FocusBriefing: Why Durkan is eyeing rapid expansion through social housing stock upgrades
Contractor and housebuilder Durkan is pivoting towards improving existing stock for social landlords. Dan Germann, MD of its rebranded Durkan Regen business, explains his plans to grow the asset regeneration arm to the tune of £100m
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In Focus‘Simply no alternative for many home purchases’: The sector group hoping Rayner doesn't leave shared ownership out in the cold
The government did not mention shared ownership in its spending review, nor did it feature in the Labour manifesto. Jo Short, who is leading a social landlord-backed campaign to raise awarness about the tenure, tells Matilda Battersby why it is needed more than ever
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In Focus‘Bewildered but joyous…’ Ian McDermott explains what the spending review means for London as he takes the G15 hotseat
In his first interview as chair of the influential housing association group, the Peabody boss talks about the housing crisis in London, recapitalising housing associations and rebuilding the sector’s reputation
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In Focus‘The core skill is listening to people’: My work as a complex mental health needs lead at Advance
In the latest in our Frontline Stories series, outdoorsy Catherine Convey chats with Housing Today about the strides she has taken since taking on a leadership role at the supported housing provider
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In FocusCIH vice-president election 2025: a guide to the candidates
Chartered Institute of Housing members can now vote in the election for the institute’s president in 2026. Here is a guide to the five candidates
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In FocusWhat will the Treasury’s 'green book' review mean for construction and housing?
Boris Johnson’s 2020 review of the Treasury’s appraisal process for government investments led to some improvements in how value in schemes is judged, but a new review commissioned by Labour this year found many of the old practices remain embedded. Rachel Reeves has now said she wants to go further.
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In FocusCounting the cost of the infrastructure challenge behind England’s 1.5 million homes target
The government has committed to ambitious housebuilding goals but risks overlooking the supporting infrastructure demands and costs
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In FocusLearning from the land of opportunity: Could a US-style system of low income tax credits boost affordable housing in the UK?
The government is on the hunt for ways to fund affordable housing without increasing short-term public borrowing. A group of activists and researchers believes there is a solution in operation across the Atlantic. Carl Brown finds out more