Appendix 3: THE POLICY CONTEXT
This section sets out the main policy priorities which have influenced the housing
strategy at national, regional and local level. Key messages are highlighted in bold.
National policy
As housing has become more central to government thinking, its early emphasis
upon the more conventional issues of housing quality and choice has been
supplemented by concerns about the role of housing in supporting wider economic,
social and environmental objectives for sustainable communities. A wide range of
government policies are summarised below under 3 main headings.
(1) A step on the housing ladder for future generations of home owners
“Sustainable Communities: Homes for all” (ODPM, 2005) includes a number of new
ways of helping as many people as possible to own their own home,
including shared ownership and shared equity. The Government’s response to the
Barker Review of housing supply will set targets for affordable housing including
homes to own and set a national target level of home ownership of 75%.
(2) Quality and choice in rented housing
Quality and choice: A decent home for all (DETR, 2000) set minimum standards for
public and private housing, the Decent Homes Standard, to be achieved by
2010. For social housing this was combined with action to improve housing
management. Licensing of houses in multiple occupation and in specific instances
other private rented property, was included in the Housing Act 2004. The target
increase in affordable housing supply will include specific targets to increase social
rented housing.
(3) Mixed, sustainable communities
The Sustainable Communities Plan (ODPM, 2003) produced a framework for a
number of subsequent policy documents summarised here, prioritised a broader
strategic approach to Housing Market Renewal in areas of low demand and
abandonment. The Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder of which Bridging
NewcastleGateshead is one, are taking this forward and acting as sources of good
practice.
People, places and prosperity (ODPM, 2005) confirms the Government’s
commitment to area-based regeneration initiatives which focus on
neighbourhood planning and community involvement, such as the Local
Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and the New Deal for Communities.
Planning Policy Statement 3 on housing (ODPM, 2005) requires planning authorities
to ensure provision of a mix of new housing type, size and tenure, to support
mixed, inclusive, sustainable communities. In respect of existing housing
proposals to support tenure diversification on social housing estates in areas of
low vitality in Peoples, Places Prosperity (ODPM, 2005).
Good quality design and environmental sustainability in the construction and
management of housing are seen as an integral part of broader social and
economic sustainability policies. Energy efficiency and fuel poverty are
longstanding policy commitments.
A step change in housing supply will be needed to deliver much of the above
agenda. The Barker Review of housing supply, and the Government’s response
(ODPM, HM Treasury 2005), highlighted the relationship with economic growth and
recommended increases in supply founded on an improved understanding of
housing markets and market areas.
Regional policy
Regional policy is dominated by the Northern Way (ODPM, 2004), which promotes
pan-regional co-ordination of action to bridge the wealth gap between the regions
and introduces the idea of the City Region as the building block of economic
development. City Regions, and their urban centres, are seen as the basis of
regional and national economic prosperity.
The links between housing and economic growth in the Northern Way and in the
other regional policy documents which support it can be summarised:

economic growth increases housing demand and supply must
increase and change to match it more closely
 a mix of more attractive housing is needed to bring new businesses
and key employees to the region and retain them there
 regeneration of areas with a poor reputation is needed to improve
the region’s attractiveness as a place to live, work and visit
 housing construction is itself an important provider of income and jobs
and the region should take advantage of the training and
employment opportunities it provides.
Regional Economic Strategy
The overall aim of the RES, Leading the Way (One NorthEast, 2006), is to increase
the region’s competitiveness within an increasingly global economy, with an
emphasis on knowledge-based industries. Scenario-based planning is encouraged
based on a range of positive scenarios for the North East economy: from “bronze”
(80% of average regional economy by 2021) to “gold” (100%). This is supported by a
City Region Development Programme in which Newcastle Gateshead and Science
City are prioritised. Attractive housing and high quality living environments are
needed to attract and retain a highly skilled and entrepreneurial workforce.
Regional Spatial Strategy
The RSS Submission Draft (North East Assembly, 2005) also considered a range of
economic scenarios and adopted one based on 2.8% growth by 2021, focusing
development in the conurbations and the main towns. Housing policies in the RSS
propose a combination of increased demolition and new housebuilding, focused
on the conurbations, recycling previously developed land restructuring the housing
market and reducing commuting. A better mix of type, size and tenure, is
recommended to promote inclusive communities and reduce social polarisation,
including an adequate supply of good quality affordable housing.
Regional Housing Strategy
The over-riding priority of the RHS (North East Regional Housing Board, 2005) is the
rejuvenation of the housing stock to meet 21st century aspirations and to support
sustainable communities. This will mean increased rates of clearance and new
housebuilding. Other supporting objectives ensure a diverse mix of new housing,
improved quality of existing housing and action to meet specific needs, with an
emphasis on an ageing population and minority communities.
Integrated Regional Framework
The Integrated Regional Framework, Achieving a better quality of life (North East
Assembly, 2004) sets out an Integrated Regional Matrix based sustainability
objectives for use in policy formulation and review. It proposes a systematic
assessment of decision-making to ensure the effective integration of sustainability
principles in all mainstream policy work.
Local policy
Regeneration Strategy
A broad range of action is proposed to achieve and sustain lasting improvements to
the city’s quality of life and to promote economic growth in the City. A thematic
approach is taken which includes action on housing. The inter-relationships
between the themes are emphasised, together with 4 cross-cutting themes. These
are summarised in section 3 above.
The Newcastle Plan: Making a Great North City
Newcastle’s Community Strategy is based on 9 themes, including a housing theme
which prioritises action on community safety, meeting diverse needs,
homelessness and the importance of planning based on improved evidence.
Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy
This strategy targets action to small areas of deprivation in the East End, West End,
North and Outer West areas of the city, setting local priorities in consultation
with the community. These are focused on 6 themes set by Government,
including housing.
Local Development Framework: Core Strategy
The emerging Core Strategy sets a population target of 285,500 by 2021, based on
moderate economic growth, and focuses housebuilding on the Market Renewal
Pathfinder area and the Newcastle Great Park while restricting it in other parts of
the city. The vast majority of housing will be on previously redeveloped land and
average density is set to increase modestly. Housing mix should promote inclusive
communities and priority is given to larger houses with 3 or more bedrooms,
rather than flats. A requirement for an element of affordable housing and for
special needs is to be set.
Bridging NewcastleGateshead, the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder
BNG aims to create great places to live from areas with a history of low vitality in the
city’s East End, West End, and North Central areas. Existing and future residents’
aspirations are targeted with specific reference to families, professionals in the
cultural and knowledge industries, graduates and first-time buyers.
Having been launched in 2003, the Housing Market Renewal programme has a
fifteen year timeframe that fits well with the timeframe of the Housing Strategy. The
strategic objectives informing BNG’s current programme are:



to increase home ownership to reflect housing aspirations and to help
reduce concentrations of worklessness
to provide improved choice in housing through new development,
investment in sustainable homes and replacing obsolete housing
to work with partners to improve neighbourhoods and services to provide
a good quality of life, where
-
it adds value
it draws in investment
it complements other initiatives that ‘narrow the gap’ between
neighbourhoods with concentrations of poverty and other areas, such
as those to provide employment opportunities, raise incomes, improve
health, educational achievement, community safety, services and
transport
Supporting People Strategy
The overall purpose of this strategy is to support vulnerable people to live
independently and participate in the social and economic life of the community.
Priorities include:



involving users in the management of the services they receive
ensuring these services provide value for money
for older people, modernising sheltered housing, increasing the
provision of extra care schemes and “floating” support for increasing
numbers of older people living in their own homes
 for other vulnerable groups ensuring a range of support including
better quality hostel accommodation, “clusters” of homes and “floating”
support.