Experts and politicians from all sides are calling for local authorities to build more homes. But after decades of inaction there is relatively little known about how they can pursue this. This joint NPF/ RTPI sponsored research identifies the practical ways in which local authorities in England are engaging in the direct provision of housing in their areas.
This project identified the practical ways in which local authorities in England are engaging in the direct provision of housing in their areas.
This final report shows the practical ways in which local authorities in England are delivering housing today. It maps out a variety of innovative ways that more housing is being provided by the public sector at a time of significant pressures on local authority budgets. The report includes:
- Evidence that an estimated 65% of local authorities are directly involved in housing provision. whilst only 9% are not involved in any housing provision activity.
- A detailed review of the policy and practice context of local authority involvement in housing.
- Details of a wide variety of mechanisms and means of engaging in direct provision of housing.
- Recommendations for Government, local authorities, and other key stakeholders on boosting local authority direct provision of housing.
This research was commissioned by the National Planning Forum and the RTPI.
A follow up to this research was published in 2019 and we also published practice advice in 2019 drawing on both pieces of research.
