Top stories this week *Property Industry gives evidence on Planning Bill *Bank Rate maintained at 5.5% *Halifax reports house price increase for December Top stories this weekProperty Industry gives evidence on Planning Bill....read moreBank Rate maintained at 5.5%....read moreHalifax reports house price increase for December....read moreQuick LinksHBF NewsGovernment News Economic NewsHousing Market NewsEventsHBF NewsProperty industry gives evidence on Planning Bill The Home Builders Federation (HBF) and British Property Federation (BPF) have appeared before a Parliamentary Committee scrutinising the Planning Bill to highlight key issues on proposals for a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).While welcoming CIL (which reflects the Government's acceptance of our case not to proceed with a Planning-gain Supplement), the industries emphasized the need for a number of key requirements to be contained in the Bill.Welcoming a local approachIn giving evidence, HBF and BPF welcomed CIL's local basis which places the responsibility for setting, collecting and disbursing it at local authority level. This will maintain the essential relationship between developers, local authorities and their communities, ensuring that contributions from developers are channelled locally to support infrastructure for housing and commercial developments.Assessment must be local We stressed that the starting point for CIL must be a local assessment of the infrastructure required to support planned development with consideration to what charge is appropriate and viable in that area. In relation to this, we called for clauses in the Bill appearing to link CIL to changes in land values to be removed, since this approach might raise the significant valuation problems associated with PGS. The levy must be additionalWe also called for an assurance from ministers that the funds raised through the CIL should be regarded as additional to the existing sources of finance available to fund infrastructure and that it should not lead to any reduction of local or national budgets. We stressed that only if the money raised through the CIL is ring-fenced to provide additional infrastructure will there be any real benefit in terms of providing support for more housing and commercial development. Levy must be set through Local Development FrameworkWe also called for the Planning Bill to spell out the need for the CIL to be derived from the infrastructure planning element of the local plan-making process or Local Development Framework (LDF).Link to press release on this subject to topNHMB Chair David Pretty speaks out on Radio 4David Pretty appeared on BBC Radio 4 this week in an edition of ‘Reality Check' - a discussion series involving experts and people closely involved in the issues concerned devoted to housing.Also taking part were Government Advisor Rebecca Willis, Professor James Woudhuysen, rural campaigner Kevin Fitzgerald and Liz Overand, a woman who is desperate to buy her own home. The discussion focused on where the new homes should go and whether it is possible to create sustainable communities from scratch.To listen again to this programme please click hereThe programme will be repeated on Radio 4 on Saturday 12 January 2008 at 22:15 - 23:00to topGovernment NewsCLG: make statement on the role of Homes and Communities AgencyThe Government has set out more details of the work of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) which will play a key role in delivering the 3m new homes by 2020 pledged by the Prime Minister.Housing Minister Yvette Cooper announced that the HCA will therefore have responsibility for regeneration programmes from English Partnerships and the provision of new affordable housing funded by social housing grant from the Housing Corporation. It will have operational responsibility for the delivery of major housing and regeneration projects such as the areas of major housing growth (such as Milton Keynes, Ashford and London Stansted Cambridge Peterborough), the Thames Gateway regeneration project, taking forward the Delivery Plan outlined last November, and the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders. The Government will retain responsibility for strategic and cross-Whitehall issues on these projects. The Agency will also take on responsibility for the delivery of social sector decent homes (including Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs), Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVT) and Housing Private Finance Initiative (PFI)); PFI for new supply; mixed communities; capital investment on homelessness, hostels and specialist supported housing; the National Land-Use Database of Previously Developed Land; and the Academy for Sustainable Communities. Yvette Cooper said: "The Homes and Communities Agency will for the first time, bring together land and money to deliver decent, affordable housing and regenerate our communities by creating places where people choose to live. It will play a key role advising Ministers on turning our ambition to deliver 3 million new homes by 2020 into a reality."Link to full written ministerial statementStudy to consider higher housing numbers in West MidlandsThe West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Preferred Option was submitted to the Secretary of State in December 2007 and included proposals for 365,000 new homes for the period 2006-2026. Following its submission, the Government announced on Monday 7th January that The Government Office for the West Midlands (GOWM) is to commission a study into the potential locations for new housing in the region to meet the levels proposed by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit, some 400,000 dwellings over the next 20 years. The initial 12 week consultation period running from the 7th January to 28th March has therefore been extended to the 23rd of May to provide the opportunity to comment on the GOWM study alongside the draft RSS.View full press releaseto topPanel Report on the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South WestThe Independent panel report has been published this week relating to the draft Regional Spatial Strategy (or RSS) which was published for public consultation by the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) in April 2006. The mapped out future development of the region up to 2026 including housing growth levels, the Regional Transport Strategy and policies on other major issues, including waste disposal, minerals, energy, environmental protection and sub-regional strategies.On housing the Panel recommended increasing provision from 23,000 to 28,000 a year following strong representations from the HBF and others for a significantly higher level of supply to meet the region's housing crisis. Within this higher allocation the Panel recommends an annual provision of 10,000 affordable homes (up from 7,500 in the original draft).On other housing matters, the Panel has accepted the Regional Assembly's proposed policy seeking an advanced timetable for achieving carbon reductions equivalent to level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes for developments of 10 or more homes from 2008 and Level 5 of the Code from 2011, together with a 20% on site renewable requirement. HBF argued strongly against this policy during the Examination in Public and is in contact with CLG about the implications of the Panel's recommendation.Link to the Panel ReportPrivate Member's Bill to promote "Merton Rule" publishedConservative MP Michael Fallon published his Planning and Energy Bill on 9 January. The Private Member's Bill would provide statutory backing for local authorities to introduce Merton rule style policies requiring the provision of renewable energy on or near site. It also proposes a power for local authorities to require their own energy efficiency standards in advance of national building regulations. Private Member's Bills normally need Government support to stand a good chance of becoming law. HBF is therefore in close contact with Government about the Bill's implications ahead of its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 25 January.to topBERR publish Energy Bill and commit to new nuclear powerSecretary for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), John Hutton, has published the Government's Energy Bill and a White Paper setting out the terms on which the Government wishes to seek private sector investment in new nuclear energy generation. The Bill will amongst other objectives seek to promote additional renewable energy capacity by restructuring the Renewables Obligation. John Hutton said: "with a third of our generating capacity coming offline within the next twenty years and increasing reliance on imported energy, it is clear we need investment in a range of new energy infrastructure. Measures in the Energy Bill will drive a greater deployment of renewable and enable investment in carbon capture and storage and offshore gas infrastructure. These will help build our energy security, reduce emissions and place the UK at the forefront in the development of low carbon energy technology."to topEconomic NewsBank of England maintains Bank Rate at 5.5%The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has voted to maintain the official Bank Rate.Most commentators expect the Rate to drop in February.to topHousing Market NewsHalifax reports house price increase for DecemberThe Halifax House Index has shown that prices increased by 1.3% in December following three successive monthly falls. Prices in Quarter 4 were marginally lower than in Quarter 3, down -0.8%. House prices in December were 5.2% higher than a year earlier with the average price of a home in the UK increasing by £11,759 over the year to £197,039. View the full Halifax House Price IndexUK mortgage market continues to respond to global credit conditions CML data released this week showed that affordability in the mortgage market continued to show some resilience to tightening credit market conditions in November. Income multiples again declined modestly, reinforcing the trend that began in early autumn. First-time buyers typically borrowed 3.33 times their income, a figure that has fallen each month from a peak of 3.39 in August. Home movers typically borrowed 3.02 times their income, a figure which has remained steady since a peak of 3.04 in August.View full press releaseto topUK consumer confidence remains subdued in spite of rate cutThe Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index for December reports the following: -Consumer Confidence ticks down one pointOptimism in the labour market but less contentment with economic outlook Little New Year cheer for retailers House price expectations continue to fall View full figures2.5 million move to South East over the past decadeA new Halifax survey has shown that 2.5 million people have moved to the South East of England over the past decade. It also shows:South East proves the most popular region to move to between 1996 and 2006The South West records the largest net gain from internal migration The North East experienced the only overall population decline over the last decadeCoastal areas receive the biggest boost from net internal migrationCity areas record the biggest losses from net internal migrationMajor cities record large inflows and outflows from other areas highlighting the transient nature of their populationsView Full articleto topEventsHBF Policy Conference 2008 - Hitting the Government's housing targets30 January at One Birdcage Walk, LondonThe Government has called on the UK house building industry to increase house building levels to 240,000 homes per year and to build homes to zero carbon standards by 2016. This full day conference is perfectly timed at the start of next year to give delegates a detailed and comprehensive overview of the issues facing the industry.For further details or to book please visit our website. Alternatively contact the events team on 0207 960 1646 events@hbmedia.co.ukHBF Seminar on the 3 Dragons/GLA Affordable Housing Toolkit7 February, 30 Warwick Street, LondonHBF, in association with Taylor Wimpey and King Sturge is holding a seminar on the 3 Dragons/GLA Affordable Housing Toolkit. The seminar will be chaired by Terry Fuller, Affordable Housing Director of Partnering for Taylor Wimpey and will include a live demonstration by Tim Cork of Airey Miller Partnership of ways in which the toolkit can be best used from the house builder’s perspective. The event will commence at 6pm with light refreshments and the seminar will start at 6.30pm. The presentation with an interactive question and answer session is expected to last approximately 90 minutes.The event is free to attend and open to HBF members but places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. If you wish to attend please contact marian.macdonald@hbf.co.uk by January 25th. Places will be confirmed by email.to topEcobuild 2008 - zero carbon in a dayEcobuild returns to Earls Court, London between 26-28th February 2008.The exhibition will be double the size with over 500 exhibitors, more than 75 free seminars and a series of new attractions linked to the key themes - zero carbon, water management and renewable energy.With zero carbon legislation looming, Ecobuild's Road to zero carbon - realised as a series of external wall elevations - shows how different combinations of superstructure, insulation and cladding can contribute to a low carbon outcome. It is anticipated that the Zero carbon house by Zedfactory, which will reach the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6, will attract the most attention at the show. This teamed with the dedicated zero carbon seminar programme should assist with educating delegates on ways to meet the forthcoming challenges.Register for your free invitation to the show now at http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/HBF Annual Industry Lunch - 10% discount on tables booked before 8th February 23rd April 2008 at the Hyatt Regency-The Churchill, London Please note due to high demand in previous years, places are strictly on a first-come first-served basis and booking early is highly recommended. For further details or to book please click hereAlternatively contact the events team:Tel: 0207 960 1646 email: events@hbmedia.co.uk to topHBF Midlands AGM & Lunch22 February 2008 at Sketchley Grange, HinkleyThis year the AGM is being held at The Sketchley Grange Hotel, Hinckley. This is an excellent chance for everybody working in the housing industry, at all levels, to review the previous year and forward plan for 2008, as well as networking with peers.For further details or to book contact the events team on 0207 960 1646 events@hbmedia.co.ukHousing Futures13 March 2008 at East Midlands Conference Centre, NottinghamHousing Futures is a one day conference and debate on the issues facing the industry. The event will be held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in the centre of the UK for managers of regional businesses to attend with their senior team.For further details or to book please visit http://www.hbmedia.co.uk/housingfutures/ . Alternatively contact the events team on 0207 960 1646 events@hbmedia.co.ukto topHBF Midlands Social9 May 2008, Sketchley Grange Hotel, HinkleyTo reserve a table please contact the events team on 0207 960 1646 events@hbmedia.co.ukHBF Yorkshire Social Dinner16 May 2008, Sketchley Grange Hotel, HinkleyTo reserve a table please contact the events team on 0207 960 1646 events@hbmedia.co.ukHBF South West Ball7 June 2008, Beaufort Polo Club, Tetbury To reserve a table please contact the events team on 0207 960 1646 events@hbmedia.co.ukto topJo WestonView Previous Weekly News Summary
