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South East Housing Coalition

01/07/10

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The South East Housing Coalition is an effective partnership between CIH, Shelter, National Housing Federation and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Here's an update of our work so far.

What is the partnership for?

The South East Housing Coalition (SEHC) consists of housing specialists from key regional housing organisations and other cross-sector bodies in the South East - CIH, Shelter, National Housing Federation, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and, in the future, the group aims to encourage partners to join from the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The coalition exists as a key resource to draw on in terms of housing policy and follow up on developments within the housing market as a whole. It applies knowledge to regional markets, links with other industries and influences key regional bodies and politicians to promote the importance of housing in the South East.

What does the partnership do?

• It promotes the importance of housing to fellow housing professionals and also to other key industries (links with economists, business, finance, health and education professionals).


• The partnership reviews a wide range of topical projects through seminars, events and joint publications focused on regional issues.


• The organisations work together to respond to some consultations. The most recent was a joint response to House of Commons Select Committee inquiry into housing in the South East where we gave both oral and written evidence. Most of our written response was featured in the House of Commons final report.


• Each coalition member volunteers to lead on a project. At the moment CIH is leading on the Housing and Economy work which involves a report and running an event. The event was held on 27 May - the report will follow.


• Other areas of work that colleagues have led on include affordable housing delivery models, new forms of funding streams, viability and issues around public sector land, plus a series of housing seminars. The first SEHC seminar was held in Kent - the focus was on exploring new models of housing delivery and the barriers limiting affordable housing delivery across Kent. It provided a useful insight into new delivery tools.


• Moving forward, the coalition is meeting to discuss topics post-election. It will discuss influencing and lobbying strategies for new government structures. We will also be discussing and reviewing how far we have come as a coalition, what needs to change and how we aim to work moving forward.

Why is the partnership needed?

• The core emphasis is on policy areas that have significant implications for the South East. The coalition exists to deliver on issues that are specific to the South East, giving the necessary regional voice.


• It allows for a stronger voice to get housing messages higher up the political agenda - to influence on increased funding, sharing good practice, knowledge, an integrated approach to doing things, minimising repetition and increased support for housing.


• It enables the various organisations within the coalition to contribute to resources to deliver on a number projects and key focus areas which include affordability, financing, sustainability, overcrowding and a number of others.


• It gives the South East region better recognition and representation.

What is the partnership's current focus?

The coalition is currently working with the different counties across the South East to explore the issues at a local level and host a series of seminars tailored to each area. It is consulting with Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council to influence policy work moving forward. The coalition will also work together to influence South East MPs and promote the importance of housing in the recovery through a number of MPs' breakfast meetings. A programme of work is developed every quarter depending on the current key policy issues.

For more information:
Michelle Chivunga, South East Policy and Practice Officer
Chartered Institute of Housing, 9 White Lion Street, London, N1 9JX
t: 020 7520 3389
e: michelle.chivunga@cih.org