On 5 March, we hosted a reception at the Houses of Parliament to mark the launch of our latest report, Foundations for the future – a new delivery model for social housing. We welcomed Members of Parliament, Peers, civil servants, architects, and industry professionals to discuss how we can collaborate to deliver high-quality social homes across the country.
Our report presents an innovative solution to help solve England's housing crisis without reliance on continuous central government funding. Our proposal includes using land which is free at the point of use to build mixed-tenure developments of social and market homes. The receipts from market sale homes are then reinvested to build further homes for both market sale and social rent.
Who spoke at the event and what was said?
Mike Reader, Labour MP for Northampton South and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure, set the stage by highlighting the importance of high-quality social housing in meeting England’s housing needs. He reflected on the Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes, and the role that well-designed housing must play in achieving this.
Jack Pringle, RIBA Chair of the Board, introduced our report, Foundations for the Future, explaining how its model can support the government’s housing targets. Acknowledging the parliamentarians, architects and industry professionals in the room, he stressed the importance of collaboration for the country to meet government housebuilding targets.
He said:
"The need for social homes is greater than ever.
Because of this need, 1.3 million households are currently stuck waiting for a home. Local authorities across England spent over £1.24bn in the year up to March 2023 on reducing homelessness, including temporary accommodation, which of course need not have been spent if we had the homes to house people. So, the situation is unsustainable.
We must overhaul how we think about resource and how we understand creation of the built environment. This is not just about providing access to quality homes in communities. The economic activity that recycling these profits can bring to the country will add to the economic growth we so badly need."
Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, spoke next, offering the Conservative Party’s perspective on social housing. He reflected on current challenges around delivering social homes.
Florence Eshalomi, Labour (Co-op) MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green and Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee, followed with an overview of the HCLG Committee’s work. She outlined its focus on the government’s housing agenda and stressed the significance of social housing within it.
Why was this event important?
The event marks an important moment in RIBA’s ongoing efforts to shape the future of housing across the country. It provided a key opportunity to build support for our proposals from across the political spectrum by engaging directly with MPs, Peers and civil servants. Strengthening relationships with policymakers helps to ensure that our thought leadership and expertise remain central to the conversations that will influence housing policy in the coming years.
Learn more about the report by reading our explainer, Foundations for the Future – new model for social housing.
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