Delivering housing and regeneration: Communities England and the future of social housing (www.communities.gov.uk)

Communities England will combine the work of the Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and the delivery section of DCLG. Combining housing supply work and regeneration. Includes elements of both aggregation and devolution.

On firm foundations, by Melinda Phillips (PF 8/12/06)

Housing21 RSL in PPP with local authorities to provide integrated housing and services for older people. Eg. Walsall – housing will be a one-stop-shop for housing and care services, including interim care flats for people leaving hospital; Kent – specialist housing for people with mental health conditions.

A who’s who of the recent mergers (Guardian 27/4/05)

RSL mergers. Eg. Network Housing Group: Network owns no properties but provides central services to group members. Also owns GroupFund subsidiary to provide capital for the group.

A2 group – savings in back office functions and on repairs and maintenance.

I want that one, by Neil Merrick (PF 12/1/07)

Choice-based letting. Interesting points:

- Still not any kind of ‘market’. Applicants are ranked in terms of priority and high priority applicants are more likely to get their choices.

- Applicants are given feedback on why they are not successful – they can adjust their bidding behaviour in future, so they have information rather than being somewhat blind cf. health

- What constitutes good housing is readily understood by service users.

Personal questions (PF 12/1/07)

Affordability of personalised services. Socially divisive and limited by personal means.

Housing regulator plans divide sector (PF 14/9/07)

Audit Commission forming a strategy to seek new responsibilities – some freedoms don’t need to be granted by the government. Possible ’strategy as experience’ in desire to link housing regulation to existing performance assessment.