Opportunities for housing associations in the new era of devolution

Devolution is a government priority aiming to build a clear, consistent system of regional government across England. Right now, a delay to elections for several new mayoral strategic authorities offers housing associations a key chance not just to shape regional partnerships that can build affordable, decent homes well before the mayors arrive, but also to set a template for innovation and investment across the UK in other devolved partnerships.

Regional government matters: A family priced out of one borough needs housing when it moves to the next. A person experiencing homelessness travels between districts for support. First home buyers search across travel-to-work areas. Those with complex needs may need supported housing that draws on cross-boundary support. Strategic authorities can now use devolved powers to tackle all of these issues. Preparatory shadow teams will start now to plan frameworks across multiple councils, coordinate infrastructure investment, and pool affordable housing funding. They will create new blueprints for tackling a region’s growth, transport, housing and skills challenges.

By acting now, housing associations can position themselves as credible partners in helping devolved powers to deliver tangible benefits for the people and places they serve. Housing associations have huge expertise. They know where need is greatest, where good things are happening, and where investment can have the biggest impact.

The difference early collaboration can make

For the new mayoral strategic authorities there are two workstreams – building the machinery teams need (offices, systems, governance) and building the institutions (delivery partnerships, evidence bases.) Many mayoral strategic authorities are also coping with the impact of working with councils that are being restructured as part of Labour’s local government reorganisation mission. There’s a lot going on, and a lot to get done. Housing associations should aim to offer help quickly.

There are some great success stories out there. In Greater Manchester, housing providers spotted the chance to build an early partnership via a conversation between the chief executive at one of the housing providers, and the Director of Housing at Manchester. The result was a housing provider group for Greater Manchester that pooled shared expertise and created an enduring partnership to solve the city’s housing crisis and other complex challenges.

As a result of this groundwork, when Andy Burnham arrived there were partners and providers who were better able and prepared to engage. Burnham’s MSA was able to respond quickly and at scale with partners who were embedded in the combined authority and who understood the human impact of getting it wrong. You can read more about some of the brilliant work happening in Greater Manchester in the devolution toolkit.

Your steps to success

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled some lessons learned while supporting mayoral strategic authorities and the organisations who engage with them:

Build and share your evidence base about what's possible. Shadow authorities are trying to understand their regional housing systems right now. Housing associations have granular knowledge of this. Map your stock across the region. Where do you already operate? Where could you expand? What gaps are you seeing? Don't wait to be asked. Commission your own evidence and share it.

Engage early as a place partner, not just a provider. You understand what works in affordable housing commissioning. You know which assurance requirements are proportionate. You have partnership experience from other regions. Show you can achieve what the mayoral strategic authority wants and demonstrate how housing delivery connects to their wider priorities around economic growth, health outcomes, employment.

Think about impact measurement. When funding begins, authorities will need to demonstrate impact both in homes delivered and outcomes achieved. Families who've found stability. People who've moved from homelessness into secure housing. Savings or cost avoidance as a result of appropriate support. Communities where people can afford to stay. Align your impact measurement with what strategic authorities will need to report so they see your value.

Demonstrate how you can collaborate to advantage. The likelihood is that you already have solid foundations of collaboration. How can you demonstrate ability to work with local government and other housing associations at a greater regional scale? Map the housing associations, developers and housing providers in the region along with other key partners for tackling the housing crisis. Where else could you partner to deliver at scale? Could you collaborate on supported housing provision? Pool resources for temporary accommodation? Present a coordinated offer rather than competing.

Work together to unlock investment and reduce risk. Mayoral strategic authorities will be ready to invest in the enabling infrastructure like land, transport and connectivity that is essential for building thriving communities. Their investment could provide the certainty and stability housing associations need to confidently commit their own resources and take on new projects. By working closely with strategic authorities, housing associations can help identify and address barriers to investment and show where public investment will make the biggest impact. Share your capacity and what you’d need to scale up.

Together, you can create the conditions for real progress.