Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

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Action
Regional housing providers should work through Inspire East and the Sustainable
Construction Forum, to develop a regional perspective on the ‘Code for Sustainable
Buildings‘. As the Region’s Planning and Housing Body, EERA should take a co-ordinating
role that is linked to the responsibility for the Annual Monitoring Report
Arrangements should be created through which private sector employers in areas of
housing stress in the Region could ensure affordable housing for key employees through
the provision of capital subsidy for their housing
The RHDG will work with regional partners, including Inspire East to develop and
promote a financial appraisal tool and ‘regional experts‘ to develop more effective
use of s106.
The RHDG will address the ‘design deficit‘ within its current structure, and RHDG will
engage with Inspire East and CABE to support the development of Quality Criteria
Housing enablers, providers and planners should ensure that quality standards are an
integral part of discussions on the economics of scheme development
The Housing Corporation will use improved methods of procurement to achieve higher
output balanced against quality of product, and continue its work with housing
associations to achieve EcoHomes standards
The regional Annual Monitoring Report will incorporate quality as well as quantity
measures, and investigate the use of appropriate indicators. Market intelligence gathered
will inform regional policy on housing as well as planning. The report will also include
progress against EERA/RHB investment targets.
Regional partners should work with EEDA to evaluate the Suffolk Regeneration Trust and
whether the approach could be replicated elsewhere in the Region. Furthermore should
evaluate other loan products and good practice and engage at regional level with
financial service providers to seek solutions to private sector stock condition issues.
RHDG will consider the appropriate lead agency
The RHDG will work with the National Housing Federation to promote a wider
understanding of its members’ social investment capacity through iN business for
neighbourhoods.
Local authorities should consider whether any additional income from council tax
charges on empty homes can be recycled into bringing empty homes back into use. The
EERA/RHB will encourage the development of Empty Homes Charters and may consider
innovative schemes to bring empty homes back into use. These should be linked to
performance on Best Value Performance Indicator BVPFI64.
The RHDG will work with partners to inform future guidance to housing providers
on the assessment and provision of accessible homes in the East of England. This will
include developing policy H2 in the draft East of England Plan.
The RHDG will work with Health Professionals developing the Regional Health Strategy
to develop a better understanding of needs and the resources available to meet them.
In addition, improved joint working and planning between housing authorities, primary
care trusts and strategic health authorities is needed, particularly when boundary
differences occur.