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
Skills Shortage Report
The Housing Forum Futures Network surveyed and interviewed Housing Forum members, to identify the current and future challenges around skills shortages, including hiring, training and retention, from across the whole of the housing and construction sector.
Building Safety & Existing Stock
Active Asset Management with JRP
This round table forum highlighted potential gains from active asset management of the existing housing stock drawing on the experiences of local authorities, ALMOs, housing associations, contractors and specialist consultants.
Housing Supply
Regeneration in Wolverhampton and the site of the Royal Hospital
On 11 July 2024, members of The Housing Forum convened at Wolverhampton’s Royal Quarter to discuss the latest developments in the housing sector.
Building Safety & Existing Stock
Building safety cases, embodied carbon and the home environment
The Forum began with Shelagh Grant covering The Housing Forum’s Manifesto for Housing, in the pre 2024 election period - focusing on our asks in terms of quality, safety, and affordability and compared our asks with the main three political party manifestos. The Housing Forum’s recent policy briefings on Reforming the Right to Buy and Linking Social Rents to Energy Efficiency were also covered.
Building Safety & Existing Stock
The role of the Principal Designer | Roundtable report
In June 2024, housing sector experts met at a roundtable organised by BPTW and The Housing Forum to discuss the role of the Principal Designer under the Building Safety Act 2022. This report sets out the main issues discussed.
Housing Supply
South West housing drivers and challenges
The south west has particular challenges including a lack of affordable housing, with the average home costing £325,000, in part due to holiday lets and second homes pricing out local communities. The region has a mix of coastal, rural and urban communities, and a particularly encouraging environment for renewable energy generation, such as geothermal, wind and solar.
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.
Housing Forum responds to the Future Homes Standard Consultation
The Housing Forum has responded on behalf of our members to the Government's Future Homes Standard consultation. Our response includes two documents, a response to the full consultation, and a response to the specific consultation on replacing the SAP methodology.
Housing Forum responds to DLUHC on planning policy on brownfield sites
The Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing recently requested input into a consultation on strengthening policy on brownfield land. The Housing Forum welcomes this consultation, and suggests some practical ways in which planning policy for brownfield sites could be strengthened.
APPG inquiry into council housing – evidence from The Housing Forum
The APPG for Council Housing’s inquiry launched July 2023, due to a widespread sense of agreement of council housing’s importance, but a perception of a lack of move to free up the necessary funding. The final report will come out Spring 2024 with launches in Parliament and around the country.
Housing Forum response to CMA consultation on planning
The Housing Forum has responded to the Competition and Market Authority’s working paper on housebuilding and planning.
LOCAL PLAN SIMPLIFICATION CONSULTATION RESPONSE FROM THE HOUSING FORUM
The Housing Forum has responded to the Government’s consultation on the way in which local authorities make Local Plans. Our membership base across the entire of the housing sector sees the benefit of Local Plans and we support the Government’s efforts to make the plan-making process simpler and faster. The move to greater standardisation where practical is welcomed.
Older People’s Housing Taskforce | Call for evidence
The Housing Forum has contributed to the Older People’s Housing Taskforce’s call for evidence. Older people’s housing has been a significant focus for us and our members, most notably via our recent publication Older and Wiser: A practical guide for developing, commissioning and operating age-friendly homes
Developer Contribution Inquiry
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Planning launched an inquiry into England’s developer contributions systems. The APPG sought evidence about the Government’s proposed Infrastructure Levy and explored proposals to improve existing Section 106 (S106) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) mechanisms. The inquiry aims to recommend improvements to our planning system.
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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