Review of the barriers to institutional investment in private rented homes

Posted on: 23 August 2012
By: mackene
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Sir Adrian Montague’s review, commissioned by the Government to look into overcoming the barriers to institutional investment in the private rented sector, has been published. It presents a number of recommendations designed to boost housing supply and stimulate the wider economy. However, there are fears that the proposals could lead to a reduction in the level of affordable housing offered by developers under section 106 agreements. The review believes it is essential that Government clearly signals the importance it attaches to the expansion of the “build to let” market.

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Social Housing Regulatory Sector Risk Profile

Posted on: 13 June 2012
By: mackene
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The Regulation Committee at the Homes and Communities Agency has published its Sector Risk Profile. The document covers high profile issues that the housing sector faces including the impact of risks on providers’ business models, including how they drive value for money; the availability of finance and associated development risk; and the overall effect of varied risks on financial viability. It aims to present them in a way to encourage providers to think about the interdependences between risks, which will affect all providers in different combinations.

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An offer they shouldn’t refuse: Attracting investment to UK infrastructure

Posted on: 28 May 2012
By: mackene
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This report from the Confederation of British Industry highlights the importance of infrastructure to the sustainability to the UK economy and presents recommendations as to how such infrastructure could be funded.

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Partnership funding and collaborative delivery of local flood risk management – A practical resource for lead local flood authorities

Posted on: 23 May 2012
By: mackene
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This is good practice guidance to support lead local flood authorities. It is the result of a study to identify the funding mechanisms and approval processes of partnering organisations, and to identify the current issues and challenges which prevent wider implementation of joint funding and collaborative investment.

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Visions for the future of housing: Mega Cities. Istanbul, 16-19 April 2012

Posted on: 15 May 2012
By: mackene
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The Proceedings of the XXXVIII International Association of Housing Science (IAHS) are available in a 1267-page report with papers arranged under the following headings: Effective management for housing projects; Innovative construction schemes; Innovative design; Innovative financing systems. Some keynote speaker presentations are also available online.

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National Housing Federation Finance Policy Quarterly Update

Posted on: 10 May 2012
By: mackene
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This quarterly update provides a snapshot of a range of finance policy issues being worked on at the National Housing Federation. The Spring 2012 edition n this edition we provide an update on: alternative sources of finance including REITs and M and G’s private placement offer; the new Financial Reporting Standard (FRS); the new consultation on draft guidance to the VAT Cost Sharing Exemption; the Federation’s views of the current Investment Programme and new Right to Buy discounts; and auto-enrolment, tenant cash back scheme.

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Financing of new housing supply

Posted on: 8 May 2012
By: mackene
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The Government must employ a basket of measures, covering all tenures of housing, if sufficient finance is ever to be available to tackle the country’s housing crisis, according to the findings of an inquiry into the financing of new housing supply by the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee.  This volume contains the report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. Vol.II contains additional written evidence and can be viewed here.

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Equity investment in privately finance projects

Posted on: 3 May 2012
By: mackene
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The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has called for an end to the routine use of the Private Finance Initiative to pay for public infrastructure.

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Rationalising regulations for growth and innovation

Posted on: 30 April 2012
By: mackene
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Procurement processes in the housing sector are ‘onerous and costly’, thanks to overzealous interpretations of European Union procurement rules, according to a report published by trade body The Housing Forum.  The report recommends rationalising regulations into three parts: planning, building and housing standards, and doing away with other regulatory systems such as building for life and the mayor of London’s housing design standards.

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Get Britain Building

Posted on: 21 March 2012
By: isadm
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A £420m fund to Get Britain Building was announced on 21 November 2011 by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister as part of the Government’s Housing Strategy for England. The programme aims to unlock stalled sites with planning permission to support construction activity and restart work on sites delivering more than 15,000 new homes.  It is intended to address difficulties in accessing development finance faced by some housebuilders and to help bring forward marginal sites by sharing risk. The fund was increased by a further £150m to £570m on 19 March 2012. With the additional investment, the Homes and Communities Agency has now shortlisted 224 schemes that will be invited to take part in a thorough due diligence process. These schemes underwent an initial assessment by the HCA, looking at value for money, deliverability and fit with local priorities. Details of the scheme and the shortlisted sites are available online.

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