Everyone deserves to live in a decent home that they can afford, whether they own or rent the property. In South East England, regional housing policy is driven by three objectives:

• A greater choice of housing, with the housing needs of all the community recognised.
• More sustainable patterns of development and better use of previously developed land, with the focus on existing towns and cities.
• Well-designed housing to contribute to improving quality of life and promoting urban revival and prosperity.

These regional priorities are reflected in the South East Plan and the Regional Housing Strategy.

To carry these objectives forward the Regional Assembly works with partners across South East England, in particular the Regional Housing Board (RHB). The RHB is chaired by the Regional Assembly and, alongside the six Assembly members, has representatives from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships.

Current Work

Regional Housing Allocations - In December 2007 Government announced funding of £1.37billion for South East housing over three years. Funds for 2008/09 have been finalised at £407million, with provisional figures of £458m for 2009/10 and £507m for 2010/11.

The RHB has written to Government outlining the need for more investment to deliver affordable housing for the region. An extra £400m is required over three years to meet the target of 11,200 affordable homes a year set by independent inspectors. To highlight the issue the Regional Assembly has published its argument in a document called Making the Case:

Making The Case - Affordable Housing in the South East - 286 KB

Improving Private Sector Homes - The RHB has recommended to Government that nine local authority partnerships share £80m during 2008/11 to help tackle rundown housing.

Recommendations were based on bids from local authority partnerships who responded to our bidding round prospectus. Partnerships had to show how they would use innovation, such as loans rather than grants to improve South East housing for homeowners and landlords.

Regional Housing Strategy - The RHB submitted three year regional housing investment recommendations to Government in 2007. The recommendations are underpinned by a review of the Regional Housing Strategy, updating evidence and including feedback from consultation responses.

Housing Investment in the Regions: Funding Recommendations 2008-11- 1.89 MB

Latest monitoring information - The Regional Monitoring Report 2006 reveals that South East housing completions are increasing, and that the South East is making better use of land by providing a greater proportion of its housing on previously developed land and higher densities.

Links

Other pages on this website:
Regional Housing Board
Regional Housing Strategy
Housing Publications and Research
Consultation Responses
Advisory Groups
Regional Planning Housing Review Group

Regional Housing Board Partners:
English Partnerships
GOSE
Housing Corporation
SEEDA

Other web sites which provide useful information on housing, either in South East England or nationally:
Countryside Agency
Department for Communities and Local Government
ECOSE
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
National Housing Federation
Shelter

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