What We Do

The HBF has worked on the following key policies over the last year: (please click on each header to read more)

If you would like to download our Key Policy Achievements as a pdf please click here

HBF action

• HBF analysed the likely impact of the Government's plans on the industry and housing supply and concluded it was unworkable and would reduce supply
  
  
• An HBF working party looked in depth at the issue of how best to raise funds to provide infrastructure for new housing development
  
  
• Once the study had been completed, we worked with other stakeholders, including Sir Stuart Lipton and the Major Developer's Group, BPF and London First to present our alternative tariff-based proposals to Government

Results

• On understanding the depth of the industry's concerns as articulated by HBF, in the Housing Green Paper, the Government challenged the industry to devise a workable alternative funding mechanism
  
  
• The Chancellor announced in the Pre-Budget Report that the Government had dropped plans to introduce a Planning-gain Supplement, and accepted the tariff-based approach proposed by HBF and the commercial sector
  
  
• We have been asked to work closely with the Government to formulate the details of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to secure an effective and business-friendly outcome

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HBF action

• In June 2007, HBF launched a 'mini-manifesto', proposing five key areas which the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, should target to put a successful housing supply policy at the heart of his premiership.
  
  
• They were:

- increasing land supply for new homes

- making the planning system more efficient

- easing the burden of regulation on the industry

- maintaining a national ten-year timeframe for zero-carbon homes, and

- giving developers the freedom to provide homes across the market.

• HBF also called for the Housing Minister to be given a seat at the Cabinet table, in recognition of housing's national importance

Results

• As Prime Minister, Gordon Brown made housing a 'national priority.'
  
  
• In his 'Pre-Queen's Speech' he upped the Government's housing target for 2016 from 200,000 additional homes per year to 240,000 per year, with an overall target of 3 million additional homes by 2020
  
  
• The Government recognised the importance of adequate land supply in meeting these targets
  
  
• The Prime Minister gave Housing Minister Yvette Cooper a seat at Cabinet discussions

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HBF action

• HBF took the lead in focusing attention on the need for a practical and viable national policy framework if the Government's 2016 zero carbon homes objective is to be achieved

• We organised two "summits” to explore with the other key stakeholders what issues needed to be resolved and how they should be tackled

 

Results

• HBF was invited to share a platform with Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for CLG, when the target was announced officially by the Government
  
  
• Stewart Baseley jointly chairs the 2016 Task Force with the Housing Minister
  
  
• The Government accepted in "Building a Greener Future” the case for a clear national policy framework based on agreed changes in building regulations

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HBF action

• HBF engaged with CLG to ensure that the views of the industry were taken into account in this important new PPS
  
  
• In the course of discussions with Ministers, we articulated a reasoned case why the PPS should not promote a multiplicity of local building standards
  
  
• In briefing politicians and the media we also made the positive case for supporting a national framework of standards

Results

• HBF was invited to sit on the steering group which would advise the Housing Minister on the contents of the draft PPS
  
  
• The Housing Minister has agreed that the planning test in this field should not adversely affect housing supply

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HBF action

• HBF has lobbied hard at national and regional level to make the case for increased housebuilding targets to keep pace with unmet housing need
  
  
• We have made the case for significant increases in housing numbers within the draft Regional Spatial Strategies, particularly in areas of high housing need such as the South East

Results

• There have been increases in housing provision in all the draft RSSs under consideration
  
  
• The Government will conduct further mini reviews of the RSSs to ensure they can collectively deliver its target of 240,000 new homes a year by 2016

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HBF action

• After presenting evidence of falling housing land supply, HBF has pressed the Government to include the provision of sufficient land as a prerequisite for local authorities in drawing up their housing plans
  
  
• HBF has run an extensive media campaign to build the headline message that increased housing supply is only possible if more land with implementable planning permission is brought forward 
  
  
• HBF worked closely with CLG to produce guidance for the undertaking of Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessements, from which Local Authorities derive their rolling 5 year land availability

Results

• The Government has publicly recognised that increased land supply is critical to meeting its housing targets. The new Housing & Planning Delivery Grant will incentivise councils to identify and bring forward for development sufficient forward supplies of land
  
  
• The PPS3 requirement for five-years supply of land is being taken positively into account in planning appeals
  
  
• The private sector is recognised as an essential partner in the assessment of 5 year land availability assessments

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HBF action

• HBF set up the Affordable Housing Policy Group in autumn 2006, under the chairmanship of Paul Pedley, to provide recommendations on the contribution which private developers can make to meeting Government objectives on affordable housing
  
  
• A detailed report published in July 2007 called on the Government to recognise the contribution of low-cost market housing, and to include it within its official definition of 'affordable housing'
  
  
• HBF continues to work closely with the Housing Corporation to ensure the private sector is seen as an essential partner in the delivery of affordable housing

Results

• The publication of the Mayor of London's Housing Plan in September 2007 includes an acknowledgement of the role of low-cost market housing in the provision of affordable housing
  
  
• HBF's findings have been influential with a number of key politicians
  
  
• Direct grant to developers has increased in the latest round of Housing Corporation funding with more private sector developers becoming funding partners

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HBF action

• HBF moved swiftly to open discussions with the OFT
  
  
• We have remained proactive in discussing the study process and other issues with the OFT and other relevant parties
  
  
• We have taken a lead in discussions to consider further development of the HBF customer satisfaction strategy - including an improved code of conduct

Results

• The OFT has indicated its willingness to seek a consensus outcome on key areas
  
  
• We have been able to secure appropriate changes to the proposed industry questionnaire and an extended deadline

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HBF action

• HBF made a detailed submission in response to the Review's call for evidence
  
  
• HBF conducted a survey of members to clarify the position on "landbanking” issues
  
  
• HBF contributed to policy sounding board discussions on key policy areas
  
  
• A member of the HBF senior management team was a Review Consultant

Results

• The final report recognised the central role of the private sector
  
  
• It concluded that the industry was capable of delivering the Government's housing target
  
  
• The Review argued "land is the key to housing delivery”
  
  
• It recommended that Government should not take general measures to speed up build-out rates

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HBF action

• In response the RTPI's accusations, HBF quickly deployed research statistics gained from members for submission to the Callcutt Review of housebuilding delivery
  
  
• HBF wrote letters of rebuttal to national and trade press, highlighting the economic and planning necessities for landbanks and took a proactive media stance

Results

• Effective rebuttal of RTPI claims in national & trade press and in broadcast media
  
  
• Recognition from Conservatives that landbanking is a 'myth'

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