The Government has launched a record £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The first £9.58 billion has now been allocated. For housing associations, the next challenge is turning funding into homes – and that means stakeholder engagement.
The Government has committed £39 billion over ten years to its Social and Affordable Homes Programme, as part of its wider ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes in England during this Parliament.
The first wave of funding has now been announced.
£9.58 billion has been awarded to 33 Strategic Partners – 30 housing associations and three councils – with funding intended to support around 73,600 homes over ten years.
And with more than £16 billion outside London, plus around £5 billion in London, still to be allocated, there is much more to come.
Funding is only the beginning
For the organisations that have secured funding, the challenge now is turning billions of pounds of investment into actual homes.
And that means conversations and engagement with:
Mayors. Councillors. Planning committees. Local authorities. Communities. Partners.
Major housing programmes require people who can sit around the table, understand what matters to different stakeholders, explain their organisation’s position clearly, listen effectively, handle difficult questions and influence the conversation.
For housing associations that did not receive funding in the first wave, stakeholder engagement may be even more important.
There may be difficult conversations about schemes that cannot proceed, funding that has not been secured or development plans that need to change.
A changing housing landscape
The Government is putting housing at the centre of its wider programme, while giving Mayors and regional leaders a greater role in determining housing priorities and investment.
Its policy is also clear that it wants councils to play a much greater role in housebuilding.
For housing associations, that makes effective engagement with political and public stakeholders increasingly important.
The message?
The money has been announced. Now people have to make it happen.
Stakeholder engagement is therefore not simply a communications function.
It is a practical professional skill that can help housing organisations build support, navigate difficult conversations, influence decision-makers and ultimately get homes built.
For housing leaders, development teams, communications professionals and those working with local authorities and communities, being able to have those conversations effectively will be an increasingly important part of delivering the homes the programme is intended to create.