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The Fabian Society has recently launched it's new Housing and Community Policy Network, with a lecture by Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on Building Communities. The objective of the Network will be to analyse and influence key issues emerging in housing and community policy, and bring together the most significant opinion formers and decision makers in the field to explore proposals for future policy development.
Our focus will be on the future housing and community policy agenda of government and other key actors to promote a holistic approach to life chances, and to make the narrowing of inequalities a core driver of future policy.
Housing Network Programme 2008 – Provisional Themes
We are currently consulting key stakeholders and potential members about the programme content for 2008. Significant policy areas around which to focus discussion include:
- Assets, opportunity and inequality
The issues surrounding asset and wealth inequalities are becoming an increasing public and political concern. What policy responses are possible? What forms of equity shares would prove successful in meeting the needs and aspirations of those seeking to get a foot on the property ladder? Would more flexible schemes have a wider appeal and take-up than those currently available?
Increasing housing supply is a fundamental issue for each housing sector. What are the main barriers to further progress, and how can these be overcome? What are the key challenges for framing and implementing future planning reform, and how should reform proceed if it is to meet economic, social and environmental objectives? How can the public and political challenges be met so as to overcome barriers in the planning system to increase supply?
- Housing, community and the environment
Environmental issues have become central for housing and community policy – from the challenges of reducing carbon emissions from the existing housing stock, as well as new homes; to the importance of rooting this agenda in issues around local environment and quality of life if policies are to be successful in both delivering on people's core needs and concerns and promoting the behavioural change which current policy objectives require.
Other issues to be explored would include the following, and we are currently seeking input about other significant emerging policy areas of relevance.
- Planning and Regulation
- Sustainability
- Regeneration
- Tenant and Community Empowerment
- Innovation and Design
- Asset inequality
- Housing and the social care and social justice agenda
- Interlink between housing and other key policy areas such as education and health
For further information about the network, or to discuss membership, please contact Rosie Clayton, Network Co-ordinator.
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