"Housing has always been a real challenge for Britain," said George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer, last week.
Mr Osborne may have been discussing the coalition government’s Help To Buy policy, but this year’s Chartered Institute of Housing annual conference and exhibition from 23-26 June in Manchester seeks to provide answers to this ‘challenge’ from across the UK housing world.
With fewer than 12 months until the general election, housing, in the words of Grainia Long, CIH chief executive, has the potential to be a ‘dynamic driver of growth’ for the UK economy. CIH Housing 2014 will explore this in a variety of ways.
First, it will assess how more homes can be built where they are needed. In addition to expert builders and developers, attendees will hear from financiers such as Nigel Wilson, group chief executive of Legal & General, on their ambitions to see more homes built for Britain.
Second, CIH Housing 2014 will examine how the sector’s work with communities helps others in the health, social care and sustainability worlds. The Health & Housing Hub, The Green Room and the Ideas Exchange will explore this in more than 50 free seminars, available to exhibition visitors from all social landlords.
Finally, CIH Housing 2014 will play host to all the key players in the countdown to next year’s general election. Besides the current and prospective housing minister – Kris Hopkins and Emma Reynolds, respectively – we will welcome Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government. CIH Housing 2014 will also hear from a host of political commentators and policy-makers, including Philip Blond of ResPublica and the BBC’s Mark Easton and Allegra Stratton. Crucially they will be there to listen as well as speak.
CIH Housing 2014 is pulling out all the stops to ensure it rises to the Chancellor’s challenge. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to be part of the solution.