Huge opportunity for housing and local government as CLG launch new place-shaping guidance

Following on from the Lyons Inquiry and the local government White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) draft statutory guidance on place-shaping was launched last week and it signals a shift away from centralised power towards placing citizens, customers and communities centre-stage.

Focusing on community-influenced outcomes, it signals the increasing importance of Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and the Local Area Agreements they negotiate with government departments. For the first time all government departments will be required to participate and communities will have rights of engagement. Government expects the development of new, locally-focused providers and is keen to promote the creation of community businesses, new forms of co-production with communities and individuals and the extension of service provision by the third sector.

Delivering this agenda requires real credibility in communities and the social housing management function is well-placed to be the kernel of the new arrangements working on behalf of LSPs. This has already been recognised in discussion papers written by the National Federation of Housing Associations (‘Community Anchors’), and by Pinnacle (Community Management). No doubt both of these organisations will play a key part as all branches of government begin to implement the new Guidance.

Practically speaking, we’ll be hearing a lot about ‘commissioning’ – the key delivery vehicle for place-shaping - over the next few months as government departments, local authorities and providers alike begin to grapple with the detailed implementation.

The wellbeing and feel of communities across the country could be very different in five years’ time, with many of the difficult issues that have been put historically into the ‘too difficult’ box finally being tackled.

To view the draft Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities Statutory Guidance, click here.

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