The Housing Forum is a voice for the housing sector. We seek to influence policy in line with our ambitions of:
1. Increase housing supply
2. Improve quality, safety and sustainability
3. Ensure affordable housing and choice for all
We do this both reactively – responding to policy consultations on behalf of our members across the housing sector – and proactively, by building relationships with policy makers, thought leadership and campaigning for change, with documents such as our Housing Solutions and recent 2024 Manifesto for Housing. Our mission is a Quality Home For All.
Outcomes of the collaboration amongst the extensive cross-sector membership of The Housing Forum, include the practical and usable reports that we produce.
The Housing Forum makes a range of engaging and relevant reports freely available in the service of our shared vision to cultivate action towards A Quality Home for All.
These reports come from 3 primary channels –
REPORTS: FROM OUR EVENTS:
Speakers at our events are sector leaders in terms of their knowledge, insight and real-world experience of the UK housing sector. The results of their discussions are included in our event reports.
KEY PUBLICATIONS:
The Housing Forum champions thought leadership in UK housing. Working groups draw on expertise and collaboration amongst members to research and spotlight the issues of the day . We share them here and throughout industry media. We welcome input and suggestions for future reports.
POLICY BRIEFINGS:
These reports are focussed on topical issues of interest to our membership and the wider housing and construction sector.
Reports
Building Safety & Existing Stock
The Role of the Principal Designer – Building Safety Act and Gateway Two Update
A Housing Forum roundtable discussed the Principal Designer role under the Building Safety Act 2022, highlighting challenges in competency assurance and register effectiveness. The event featured input from various industry professionals, addressing concerns about Principal Designer registration, insurance coverage, and the impact on existing buildings.
Why are social landlords losing interest in Section 106 sites, and what can we do about it? Round table discussion 19 November 2024
The Housing Forum is aware of difficulties being experienced by housebuilders, who increasingly report challenges in finding buyers for the affordable housing built to fulfil Section 106 conditions on mixed-tenure developments.
The Building Safety Regulator and refurbishment challenges: CEO Forum 14 November 2024
This event discussed the role of the Building Safety Regulator. Currently, by far the greatest challenge significant delays being experienced in the Gateway process. There is also some confusion ongoing around who should be taking on the role of the Principle Designer. This forum discussed the solutions that are emerging as the sector gets to grips with the new regime.
Cross-Sector Solutions to Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation
The UK faces a critical homelessness crisis, with temporary accommodation use escalating, placing a heavy financial strain on local councils and creating dire circumstances for those experiencing homelessness.
Housing Supply
Insight report from Development Partnership Forum in South Yorkshire
On 24 September 2024, members of The Housing Forum joined colleagues from Rotherham and Sheffield Councils together with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) at Rotherham Town Hall. The DPF was followed by a walking tour of Forge Island- the newly completed landmark leisure destination - and of several newly completed Council-led housing developments in the town centre.
The Cost of Building a House
How has the thing we need most become unaffordable?
A new report by The Housing Forum answers the all-important question: How much does it cost to build a house?
The Housing Forum, is a cross-sector body for the construction and housing sector and became aware of concern across the sector about the rising costs of building new homes. The high inflation seen over the last few years has had a particularly severe effect on construction and is having a long-term impact on costs, with delays and uncertainty in the planning system exacerbating the issue.
We therefore pulled together data from across our membership base – who between them span the whole process of building a house – from manufacturing the component parts, designing it, obtaining planning permission, building it and ultimately selling or managing the new home.
A new report by The Housing Forum answers the all-important question: How much does it cost to build a house?
The Housing Forum, is a cross-sector body for the construction and housing sector and became aware of concern across the sector about the rising costs of building new homes. The high inflation seen over the last few years has had a particularly severe effect on construction and is having a long-term impact on costs, with delays and uncertainty in the planning system exacerbating the issue.
We therefore pulled together data from across our membership base – who between them span the whole process of building a house – from manufacturing the component parts, designing it, obtaining planning permission, building it and ultimately selling or managing the new home.
The Housing Forum responds to working paper on planning committees
Planning Reform Working Paper: Modernising planning committees
Right to Buy Consultation – Response from The Housing Forum
The Housing Forum has responded to the Government's consultation on the Right to Buy.
The Housing Reform responds to Government consultation on the UK workforce needed to deliver clean secure energy
The Housing Forum has responded to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee's inquiry on how to build the workforce needed to deliver the policies and infrastructure for the UK’s clean, secure energy mission.
The Housing Forum response to the Government’s consultation on future social housing rent policy
The Government has consulted on a new rent policy that will take effect from April 2026.
Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy
The Housing Forum has responded to the consultation on behalf of our members as we believe that the delivery of new housing is a direct driver of economic growth, whilst the provision of quality homes across the country provides the workforce with the home they need to live a healthy and productive life.
The House of Lords Built Environment Committee call for evidence on Grey Belt
The House of Lords Built Environment Committee launched a short inquiry into the Grey Belt in England. The Housing Forum has submitted evidence to the inquiry on behalf of our cross-sector membership.
Housing Forum responds to proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework
The Housing Forum has responded to the Government's latest consultation on planning reform. We welcome the Government’s ambitions for a step change in housebuilding, maximising the amount of affordable housing that can be delivered, and reforming the planning system as one of the ways to increase housebuilding.
The Housing Forum has responded to the Government’s consultation on locally-led Development Corporations
Our local authority members are keen to deliver more housing, especially new affordable homes. We believe that a variety of delivery models can be suited to achieving this. Development Corporations can be particularly useful when there is greenbelt land being released, where there are multiple land owners, and where more than one local authority needs to work together to bring sites forward. A Development Corporation can support delivery through providing dedicated leadership and focus, providing continuity over a long period of time including when local authorities can see a change in political control.
The Housing Forum responds to the Government’s consultation on Accelerated Planning.
The Housing Forum has responded to the Government's consultation on Accelerated Planning, supporting the principle of a faster and more predictable planning system, but expressing reservations about fairness and a lack of inclusion of residential applications.
Baxi Heating, PPS CHP Plant Room
What our members say
‘We believe that The Housing Forum’s Manifesto of ‘a quality home for all’ has never been more true. An important aspect of this includes safe, efficient, affordable heat for all. Baxi Heating has joined The Housing Forum to share ideas and best practice to help meet this manifesto. We’d like to share and collaborate with the other member organisations to help The Housing Forum realise this aim’
Baxi Heating
British Gypsum, Newham, Installation of Gyproc Habito
What our members say
‘We joined The Housing Forum to collaborate with other members who are looking to improve the quality of the homes they provide and share experiences of how this can be achieved. We want to challenge existing thinking and practices in the industry about what better really means and could look like.’
British Gypsum
NHBC, Inspectors on Site
What our members say
‘NHBC supports and promotes the excellent work of The Housing Forum, whose breadth of membership, thought-provoking working groups and regional events mean it identifies the real needs of the sector. The promotion of partnership across house building that is central to the Housing Forum’s purpose is key to NHBC, with all elements of the sector having a role in increasing the quality of new housing supply.’
NHBC
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