JV North hosted a roundtable event with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to discuss how more homes can be built in the new affordable homes programme.
The event at KPMG’s Manchester offices focussed on the role the combined authority will play in Homes England’s new £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme that opened for bids at the start of March.
JV North members and contractors from the consortium’s £500m framework met with GMCA representatives to discuss how housebuilding delivery could be accelerated.
Conversations covered the need to encourage earlier engagement of contractors in development schemes, the benefit to JV North members of being more informed about plans and housing sites and the advantages of quicker decision making by registered providers when opportunities are presented.
Discussions also took place regarding frustrations from contractors about on-site delays caused by third parties involving planning, highways and utility providers.
JV North Chair, John Bowker, attended the event and said: “Everyone around the table wants the same thing; to build more high-quality energy-efficient homes as quickly as possible so more people in Greater Manchester can have a safe, warm home.
“This made for very engaging and informative conversations especially around how GMCA will be working with Homes England to remove barriers that are slowing housebuilding and collaborate on bringing key sites forward.
“Delegates also found it enlightening to hear concepts by Manchester Athena – an organisation that works with social housing providers to improve employment opportunities – about how collectively partners could address the skills challenge in the construction sector.”
GMCA has pledged to build 10,000 energy-efficient homes by 2030 and 50,000 by 2039 with 60% offered at social rent and a clear focus on specialist and supported housing schemes.
Housing and regeneration sites will prioritise Mayoral Development Zones, key town centres and areas classed as ‘places for everyone’.