Following the 2004 Barker Review of Housing Supply, Housing Boards throughout the country are moving to work with regional planners at Regional Assemblies. Barker felt that people planning neighbourhoods should work closely with people planning housing.
Last week's meeting of the Housing Board was the last chaired by the Government Office. Outgoing Chair Jonathan Blackie said, "In only three years, the NEHB has made important strides in developing the housing agenda in our region. In that time we have also made recommendations to Ministers on how over £360million should be spent in the region which is making a real difference to the lives of north east people.
The new Chair of the NEHB, Councillor Alan Napier who previously has represented the North East Assembly on the Board said:
'It is right that work on regional housing should be alongside work on regional planning and I look forward to the Board going from strength to strength under the wing of the Assembly.'
Regional Housing Boards have important work in drawing up a strategy for housing in the region. They have an overview of the whole region and aim to make sure that local councils' work takes into account what is happening over their boundary. Housing Boards help their strategy fall into place by giving councils grants to improve housing in their area. Their improvements must fit in with what the strategy is trying to achieve.
Housing Boards also have the job of passing on information on best practise in housing. For example, the NEHB held a seminar on good design in housing and in September holds a seminar on providing lower cost homes in areas where houses have become too expensive for some people.
