Building homes fit for the future
The roundtable ended with a rallying cry for change. Early engagement, rethinking procurement, unlocking planning challenges and focusing on long-term value were seen as crucial to delivering the homes that London desperately needs.
It’s clear that a holistic approach is necessary to address the housing crisis. Attitudes must be challenged, conversations should be transparent, and we need to think long-term. How do we define and ensure value for money? How do we build for the next generation without compromising current demand?
The answers are complex, and there is no 'one size fits all' solution. What works well in one local authority might not suit another. However, one thing is certain: collaboration is crucial in addressing these questions.
Local authorities are experts in their communities, while private sector contractors bring critical engineering solutions. By combining the breadth and depth of our teams with the lessons learned from the plethora of delivery expertise we have, these partnerships enable local authorities to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive housing delivery.
Working together, we can overcome these challenges and seize the opportunities ahead. Conversations like these are just the beginning of the collaboration necessary to create the housing solutions of tomorrow.
Early contractor involvement leads to better outcomes
A holistic approach to cost and value is essential
Smarter partnerships will unlock housing potential
Sustainability must be at the heart of all new developments.
Attendees concurred that sharing information and expertise was the first step forward in ensuring meaningful change. Working together, the public and private sectors should put sustainable housing delivery above all else.
As Emma Osmundsen, Ealing’s Assistant Director of Housing Development & Regeneration, aptly put it: "We have the right people in this room to make a difference. If we unite our efforts, we can drive and deliver real change."
Once people see effective partnerships in action, others will be inspired to follow. We all need to remember that we can achieve far more together than we ever could alone.
