This conference will discuss priorities for the building of new homes and next steps for the wider housing market in England.

With housing being highlighted as a focus in general election campaigning, the conference will be a timely opportunity for delegates to discuss priorities for policy in the new parliament.

It will be an opportunity to examine key issues for housing supply, looking at the way forward for increasing building on underused sites and tackling bottlenecks within the planning system.

There will be discussion on implementation of measures in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 which aim to see houses built faster and to higher standards. Sessions in the agenda will discuss the design and implementation of local plans following the removal of mandatory targets, priorities for community engagement, how to target areas of high demand, and balancing new developments with environmental protection.

Delegates will also consider the way forward amidst potential tensions between meeting future national housebuilding targets and the integration of house-building within local authority policies for regeneration, spatial development and growth.

Sessions will explore recent updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and Long-Term Plan for Housing, and whether proposals go far enough in addressing concerns surrounding housing supply. Areas for discussion include changes to five-year housing land supply and delivery requirements, increasing construction on brownfield sites, granting of planning permission, and incentives for planning authorities to keep their local plans up to date.

With recommendations for further government support and investment, stakeholders and policymakers will examine priorities for the financing and sustainability of housebuilding following the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee’s report The Finances and Sustainability of the Social Housing Sector in April 2024. They will consider planning and the price of land, as well as proposed funding mechanisms and the impact of the Infrastructure Levy on social and affordable housing.

Further sessions include discussion on the efficacy of home-ownership schemes such as the Right to Buy and Shared Ownership, and what is needed from mortgage products, lenders and developers to expand routes into home ownership and enhance the home buying and selling process.

There will also be discussion on the future regulation of estate agents, including how to improve professionalism and the potential introduction of minimum levels of training and agency licensing, with legislation having not passed prior to the dissolution of Parliament.

We are pleased to be able to include a keynote session with Joanna Key, Director General, Regeneration, Housing and Planning, DLUHC.

Overall, areas for discussion include:

• the current housing market: key issues for housing supply in England – policy priorities – responding to economic challenges and trends – developing the new build market and competitiveness more widely
• affordable and social housing: addressing the recent shortfall – funding priorities and sustainability of the social housing sector – increasing availability – the impact of a proposed Infrastructure Levy

• local government: assessing the impact of the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023 – implementation of strategies for new housing from local plans
• collaboration: priorities and best practice for cooperation between central and local government – coordinating local and national planning choices and policy – community engagement

• planning: assessing system reform – streamlining – impact of proposals in the National Planning Policy Framework – delivering local plans and engaging with residents – priorities for nature and environmental protection

• development: priorities for grey belts and repurposing brownfield land – addressing regional and geographic variation in the construction of new homes – evaluating issues for key stakeholders including SMEs and larger developers

• routes to home-ownership: developing effective mortgage products and options that take economic conditions into account – impact of government-backed schemes and affordable housing programmes – access to financing options and ongoing affordability concerns
• Long-Term Plan for Housing: boosting public services and infrastructure – conservation of green belts – next steps for decarbonising the housing sector – assessing the impact of growth on housing needs

The conference will be an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues in the presence of key policy officials who are due to attend from DLUHC; Defra; DBT; DWP; Homes England; ONS; Ofwat; Home Office; and the Department for the Economy, NI.

The proceedings of the conference will be circulated more widely, to Parliamentarians, ministerial offices, and government and regulatory officials with an interest in the issues being discussed. All delegates will also receive a video recording of the conference.

The agenda:

Draft subject to change
8.30 Registration
9.00 Chair’s opening remarks
Senior Parliamentarian

9.05 Key issues for housing supply in England and latest policy developments
Senior speaker confirmed from Chartered Institute of Housing
Questions and comments from the floor

9.35 Long-Term Plan for Housing
priorities for grey belts and repurposing brownfield land | assessing proposals to enhance planning and delivery in the National Planning Framework | boosting public services and infrastructure | Levelling up and Regeneration | improving access to greenfield spaces | protecting the environment | decarbonising the housing sector
Senior representative, planning
Senior representative, housing
Senior representative, local authority
Senior representative, developer
Senior representative, environment
Questions and comments from the floor

10.35 Chair’s closing remarks
Senior Parliamentarian

10.40 Break

10.50 Chair’s opening remarks
Senior Parliamentarian

10.55 Assessing the impact of population growth on housing needs – regional and geographic variations in the construction of new homes
Senior commentator
Questions and comments from the floor

11.15 Priorities and key issues for the funding and sustainability of the social housing sector in England financial barriers for housing associations | access to funding and building safety | regulating providers | risk and financial barriers
Senior representative, housing association

11.25 Initiatives and strategies in addressing key challenges to housing supply
improving routes to home-ownership | responding to economic challenges to the market | assessing the impact of right buy schemes and affordable housing programmes | the future regulation of estate agents | access to information | payment of referral fees | transparency around conveyancing services | issues with completing transactions | impact of economic uncertainty and addressing
concerns such as inflation and interest rates
Joanne Drew, Strategic Director, Housing and Regeneration, Enfield Council
James Browne, Senior Policy Advisor, Economic Policy, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Senior representative, estate agent
Senior representative, banking
Senior representative, regulator

11.45 Questions and comments from the floor

12.25 Policy priorities for housing supply and development moving forward
Joanna Key, Director General, Regeneration, Housing and Planning, Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities
Questions and comments from the floor

12.55 Chair’s and Westminster Social Policy Forum closing remarks
Senior Parliamentarian
Sean Cudmore, Westminster Social Policy Forum