CPO Talking Heads: June 2024

Housing is in Crisis: What Role can CPOs Play?

This event runs as an informal discussion with a small panel of leading and informed practitioners extracting the nuances from this months topic "Housing is in Crisis: what role can CPOs play?". It will discuss practical issues that arise, with participants in the meeting being encouraged to listen, join in, ask questions and share comments.

Module Duration: 1 hours 3 minutes

Recorded: 24/06/2024

Areas covered

Where and What? 

• There are various locations and approaches to building new homes - from greenfield sites to repurposing existing buildings.
• A diverse range of housing types is needed - from small flats to large homes to accommodate different needs and preferences.
• Affordable and social housing should be a priority, alongside other housing options.

The Drivers and Inhibitors to Delivery

• The role of Local Plans, housing targets and the consequences of not having them.
• The relationship between politics, policy and opposition - is it too intertwined?
• Should planning have a "compelling public benefit" principle like CPOs?

Affordable Housing Challenges

• Affordable housing is often lower quality, cheaper (and likely to become obsolete quicker)  - does this just push the housing crisis down the road?
• What does "good" affordable housing in regeneration schemes look like?
• Are developer-council viability disputes on the number of affordable housing units hindering the delivery of homes more generally?

The CPO Process

• CPOs can unlock land value and transform sites, but are they fit for purpose in the planning system to deliver housing?
• Should CPOs be used to enable local authorities to more easily acquire empty properties?
• CPOs can disrupt communities - families may be displaced far from their homes, jobs and neighbourhoods. Are we doing enough to mitigate the impacts? 

Potential Solutions

• Is a "housing NSIP" (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) process needed?
• The CMA's housebuilding market study - could it suggest better ways forward?

Speakers

• John Sayer, Head of Regeneration, Ardent; Vice Chair of The CPA
• Hashi Mohamed, Barrister, Landmark Chambers
• Dan Knowles LLB (Hons) PG Dip MRICS, Director, Sawyer Fielding Ltd
• Ruth Jacob, Policy Manager, Crisis
• Greg Dickson BSc (Hons) MA MRTPI, Planning Director, Stantec

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