Housing Corporation Statement

10 March 2008       19/08

National mobility scheme study announced

Campbell Tickell consultants have been appointed by the Housing Corporation in conjunction with eight housing associations, the London boroughs and ten participating city councils to conduct a feasibility study into a national mobility scheme.

The study, a flagship initiative of Communities and Local Government, is  part of the Government's commitment  to tackling mobility and overcrowding. The eight housing associations, the Housing Corporation and the  private charitable trust the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have all pledged financial support for the project.

The purpose of the study is to research the need for a national mobility scheme, create a range of options for  how such a scheme may  work and assess the likely demand from social tenants and buy-in of social landlords.

Housing Corporation Director of Policy and Communications Matt Leach said, "This feasibility study is a great move to tackling the current mobility and overcrowding challenges faced in the social housing sector. The study will seek the views of both tenants and landlords, review current strategies  and look at how to build on best practice going forward."

The study is due to commence on 13 March 2008 and a final report due by  the end of July 2008.

Ends.

For more  press information contact Nicole Davey 020 7393 2118.

Notes for editors:

1) The Housing Corporation is responsible for regulating housing associations, which provide some two million homes across England. 
2) 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 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 is funding 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these are for affordable rent, and 35,000 are for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
3)  The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed Homes and Communities Agency and Office for Tenants and Social Landlords.