Housing Corporation News Release

The new agencies need to be bold and innovative and use their powers wisely - Steve Douglas gives final speech as Housing Corporation Chief Executive

18 November 2008         ref: 83/08

The new agencies need to build on the legacy of the Housing Corporation and this is an opportunity to be bold and innovative in these challenging economic times.  This was the key message from Housing Corporation Chief Executive, Steve Douglas, today (Tuesday 18 November) at the Northern Housing Summit, York.

In his final speech as Housing Corporation Chief Executive, and as the Corporation prepares to hand over its investment role to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and its regulatory role to the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), Steve Douglas charted the positive legacy of the Corporation.

He highlighted the Corporation's many achievements through its 44 year history - including the 1.27 million homes funded, the 198,224 households helped into homeownership over the last 20 years, over 250,000 homes brought up to the Decent Home Standard and the £30.9 billion in private finance invested in affordable housing matching the £20 billion of public sector investment.

"It is no false boast to say that the Corporation has delivered the most successful public/private partnership across the public sector in the UK."

The speech focused on:
• the homes that are still needed to meet current and future demand;
• the partners who will help achieve these objectives;
• quality of service;
• the National Affordable Housing Programme - £8.4 billion of public sector investment over the next three years, which has proved to be flexible and adaptable and to have delivered.

The speech also focused on the sector's key role in delivery.  He said, "It will be tough, but meeting the need for affordable homes has never been greater."

Steve Douglas stressed his optimism that despite the unprecedented current economic situation, the affordable housing sector, faced with the challenge of weathering the storm and demonstrating excellence, will rise and show how it can work in collaboration with local authorities and regional and national government to deliver mixed and successful communities.

Steve Douglas ended his speech by saying, "To the agencies and the sector, I urge you to be bold, be innovative.  The HCA will be the biggest single buyer in the housing market.  Use that purchasing power wisely.  The TSA will, in due course, be responsible for regulating the homes of 4 million households - quality of service delivery, I know, will be part of its core purpose.

"The sector will have a key role in helping both agencies deliver - and if there is one thing that the sector has always done, it is deliver."

Ends.

Press enquiries to Naomi Evans on 020 7383 2118

Notes to editors:

1) The Northern Housing Summit has established itself as the North's most cogent housing event.  It is taking place on 18 and 19 November at York Racecourse.

2) In 2006, the Housing Corporation and Local Government Association established a joint protocol committing the two organisations to working together to ensure the effective delivery of affordable housing that meets the needs of local communities.  This has developed into a strong partnership which will provide a firm foundation for the future working relationships with the Housing Corporation's successor bodies, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA).

3) The Housing Corporation is responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England.

4) The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8.4 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 funded 92,752 homes; 52,929 of these for affordable rent, and 39,823 for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.

5) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency and Tenant Services Authority by early December.