100 days in, and the new government offers an opportunity to review what we are doing on Europe, Ukraine, climate change, taxation, and….social housing.
grow
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner MP has promised that to “build the homes we need” and to publish a long-term housing strategy. Rayner’s recognises we need planning reform, mandatory housing targets and social housing rent stability. She knows that councils and housing associations need support to build capacity and increase supply.
If you are a developing, V1 housing association then this is positive.
place
For smaller housing associations, focusing on place and shaping places is equally important. Placeshapers – the body that represents them – are committed to putting all their resources into existing homes and services, investing long term in local communities. Making places work – whether that is defined geographically or in terms of community – builds value and social capital over time.
innovate
There is also a newfound and, to me, exciting enthusiasm for data and artificial intelligence.
Technological innovation has transformed our daily lives, changing the way we live, work and play. At the same time, this innovation has brought with it an exponential growth in data: in its generation and use, and in the world’s increasing reliance upon it.
The new department of Science, Innovation and Technology exists to accelerate innovation, investment and productivity and to drive forward modern digital government for the benefit of its citizens. In addition, and done well, automation should speed up services, reduce costs, and importantly increase accessibility and transparency.
collaborate
“Growth” could also mean mergers. Currently many larger associations are struggling with housing and service quality, damaging trust and reputations. On the other hand, Placeshapers may enjoy greater satisfaction results but lack the skills, capacity or resources to invest in technology and make best use of data.
The only way is collaborate, and I don’t mean sharing best practice at innumerable conferences. Here at the Open Data Exchange we believe:
- – Creating of an open database of UK property to drive standards, research, innovation, and a more constructive regulatory environment.
- – Enhancing tech and workplace skills, through a shared service model for programme management. This could include Buddies, partnerships and learning vehicles.
- – Simplifying complex, expensive processes that slow things down and waste our time and money. This will include engaging with regulators to move from risk aversion to risk management.
If you’re intertested in supporting our objectoves please sign up for more insights.
Share your resources or write a blog about your data experiences in social housing.
We will publish your stories on our Insights page.
We also intend to curate and maintain a page of the most useful resources for data practitioners in the sector.
If this is successful, we may establish a subscription-based channel for buying and selling resources and services.