Sandhoe Community

27 January 2008

Housing and Regeneration Bill 2007-2008

As a result of the Housing and Regeneration Green Paper (consultation) last year (2007) the Housing and Regeneration Bill 2007-2008 is currently before parliament.

The Bill seeks to establish a new government agency, (Homes and Communities Agency) and make provision about it; to abolish the Urban Regeneration Agency and the Commission for the New Towns and make provision in connection with their abolition; to regulate social housing; to enable the abolition of the Housing Corporation; to make provision about sustainability certificates, landlord and tenant matters, building regulations and mobile homes; to make further provision about housing; and for connected purposes.

Already, local authorities are exploring potential sites for building new homes - Tynedale Council's Site Allocation exercise last year is a precursor to identiifying sites that can be earmarked for building.

We already know that most of Sandhoe Parish is a part of Tynedale that is unlikely to be affected by the Site Allocation proposals, (and their offspring), because it is designated as an unsustainable community in the Core Strategy.  Maybe Acomb, or parts of it will not escape so lightly.  What is certain is that parts of Tynedale will attract new buildings to house new communities.

Under the proposed legislation, The Housing and Regeneration Bill will:
    * support the delivery of two million new homes by 2016 and three million new homes by 2020
    * create the Homes and Communities Agency, which will deliver more new and affordable homes in mixed and sustainable communities
    * support the regeneration and delivery of new social and affordable housing, both social and private. It will also make better use of surplus public sector land and brownfield development
    * give an opportunity to provide powers for the new Homes and Communities Agency to lead the delivery of major projects, such as an eco-town
    * create the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords, which will place tenants at the heart of social housing, giving them a stronger voice and more choice
    * empower tenants and improve housing services including making it easier for councils to build social housing

The Planning Bill will:
    * include proposals for a faster and fairer planning system, particularly for nationally significant infrastructure projects
    * allow more timely decisions on infrastructure projects which are key to economic growth, international competitiveness, tackling climate change, energy security and improving quality of life
    * deliver more transparent decisions with improved opportunities for public engagement at every stage
    * create clearer national infrastructure policy and better developed infrastructure projects