The South East England Regional Housing Board is inviting local authorities to bid for £80 million of funding to fight poor conditions in some of the region’s most rundown homes.

Partnerships of local authorities are being asked to put forward schemes that will maximise help for homeowners who cannot afford to bring their homes up to a decent standard.

The proposals are for funding for 2008-11, and winning bids will have to:

• Reduce the number of households who are struggling to heat their homes, because of insufficient or inefficient heating and insulation, as this affects three quarters of the 150,000 private sector rundown homes.
  
  
• Reduce the number of people living in homes that are in disrepair and without modern facilities.
  
  
• Support regeneration
  
  
• Be innovative, for example the use of loans rather than grants to pay for renovations, which will lead to more effective public sector investment as money is re-used.

Proposals will need to demonstrate value for money and a clear delivery plan.

Measures to encourage private sector landlords to use their own money to make improvements for vulnerable tenants are also likely to be favourably received.

The deadline for bids is 14 October 2007.

Chairman of the Board, Cllr Elizabeth Cartwright said:

“We are looking for high quality bids that use innovation, especially the development of loans instead of grants to maximise the use of public money.

“These improvements will not only benefit the owners, but the region as a whole. Making homes warmer and cheaper to heat will lessen winter illnesses and reduce hospital admissions. Also a more energy efficient home means less carbon emissions, which is good for the environment.

“Reducing the amount of homes that are in disrepair will lead to communities where people are proud to live, making them more likely to stay there and contribute to the local economy.”

Contacts

Steve Baker, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555234

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. Bid prospectus and application forms - 373 KB
   
   
2. Timetable for bids:
   
   14 October 2007: End of bidding round
   5 December 2007: The Board considers bids
   10 December 2007: The Board submits winning bid recommendations to Ministers
   February 2008: Awards confirmed to winning partnerships
   April 2008: Funding paid to lead authorities
   
   
3. £80 million is what the Board has suggested Government allocate to bring private sector homes up to the decent homes standard in its funding advice as part of the Regional Housing Strategy Review. This was submitted to Government on 28 June.
   
   Housing Investment in the Regions: Funding Recommendations 2008-11 - 1.89 MB
   
   
4. The South East England Regional Housing Board
   The Regional Housing Board is a partnership board comprising members of the South East England Regional Assembly and representatives of organisations with an interest in housing such as the South East England Regional Development Agency and English Partnerships.
   
   
5. The Assembly is a partnership of councils and communities in the South East region. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire and Surrey.
   
   
6. The Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
   
   
7. The Assembly has six roles:
1. Regional Planning
   preparing and delivering the South East Plan
2. Regional Housing
   the Regional Housing Board decides housing investment priorities
3. Regional Transport
   the Regional Transport Board decides transport investment priorities
4. Advocacy
   pressing the South East's interests in London and Brussels
5. Accountability
   scrutinising SEEDA's plans and impact
6. Alignment
   co-ordinating regional policies and decisions.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 21 August 2007