NHF: Housing bodies join forces to highlight important of housing to West Midlands economy

Friday, 27 July 2012 3:11 PM

The National Housing Federation, Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) will work together to highlight the new jobs and growth that more investment in housing could bring to the West Midlands.

They will be calling on local enterprise partnerships and local authorities to work with them to promote investment in new homes to help tackle the chronic undersupply of housing, provide jobs and give an urgent boost for local businesses through the supply chain.

The three organisations will be jointly writing to the Chairs of all West Midlands' local enterprise partnerships to highlight how investment in new housing supply can help them meet their aspirations for jobs, skills and growth. They will also seek to continue to work together and with other interested parties making the economic case for new housing development, including affordable housing, across the West Midlands.

Chris Handy, National Housing Federation West Midlands regional chair said: ‘Despite the number of new families growing in the West Midlands every year, we are currently building less than half the homes we need to keep up with the growing demand for new homes. With the average home costing nine times average regional income, now is the time to be investing in more new homes. Local enterprise partnerships, who promote new growth in the region, can play a key role in helping to prioritise housing  to increase supply, help stimulate local economies and get people into work.’

Grainia Long, CIH chief executive said: ‘Investment in housing is good for the West Midlands economy – every £1 invested in housing and construction creates £2.84 of economic activity. Putting housing at the front and centre of the West Midlands economic growth strategy will deliver benefits now, and provide the foundation for sustainable growth in the long term.’

Keith Carnegie, West Midlands regional chair of HBF said: ‘It’s vital that local authorities and local enterprise partnerships work together to plan positively to increase housing supply. On top of the obvious social benefits of tackling the West Midland’s housing crisis, increased house building will create thousands of local jobs and create much needed local economic growth.’

ENDS
For interviews or more information, please contact:
Peter Jones, communications officer (Midlands and South West) for the National Housing Federation on:
0117 9529913 or 07771 552 090 or email peter.jones@housing.org.uk

Notes for Editors:
About the National Housing Federation:
The National Housing Federation is the voice of affordable housing in England. We believe that everyone should have the home they need at a price they can afford. That’s why we represent the work of housing associations and campaign for better housing.
Our members provide two and a half million homes for more than five million people. And each year they invest in a diverse range of neighbourhood projects that help create strong, vibrant communities. Housing Associations house one in every nine households in the West Midlands.
About the Chartered Institute of Housing:
CIH is the professional body for everyone involved in housing and communities. Our goal is to provide housing professionals with the advice, support and knowledge they need to be brilliant. Our work is driven by a passionate belief that our contribution as housing professionals is vital to making communities great places to live and work – and that everyone is entitled to a decent, affordable home in a thriving, safe community.
CIH is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, with a diverse and growing membership of over 22,000 people who work in both the public and private sectors, in 20 countries on five continents across the world.
About the Home Builders Federation:
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the representative body of the home building industry in England and Wales. HBF’s members account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies.

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• housing
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• housing and planning
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• west midlands