Agenda item - New Models of Housing Delivery

Presentation from Tom Shaw (Development Director – South, Hyde Housing).

17.1      The Board considered a presentation from Rhys Daniel and Anna Wallace of Hyde Housing that provided information on housing delivery and context in the Greater Brighton region.

17.2      Councillor Theobald enquired with regard to funding and investment for housing delivery.

17.3      Anna Wallace stated that the Hyde Group were a large organisation and in a position to borrow and opportunities were available through European Investment Bank funding that was set at a cheap interest rate for social investment. Rhys Daniel added that the more pertinent question was that of land provision in the region and discussions with local authorities, housing associations and HCA were ongoing.

17.4      Geoff Raw stated that in the case of Brighton & Hove, the authority was asset rich but cash poor which meant that such a proposal was attractive in their specific case although land would still be difficult to obtain. He added that Housing Revenue Accounts and housing stock had been affected by national changes and a modal shift in housing delivery was likely to be required.

17.5      Jenny Rowlands enquired with regard to estimated timescales from the procurement of land to construction.

17.6      Rhys Daniel stated that a five year period had been set for delivering a substantial number of homes but that had to be placed in the context of the usual difficulties of development and the planning approval process.