Cheers to 2011. Here’s three aims for 2012

It doesn’t seems like six weeks since I blogged about my reflections on 2010, which contained some personally important landmarks in my life. I’d like to take a different approach this time and look forward to 2012 rather than spend a lot of time looking back on a year which – for all sorts of reasons – was tough, [...]

Totnes tale brings home benefits of affordable housing

Since joining the HCA, I have become less involved in developing human stories which can demonstrate the positive impact that affordable housing has than I have been in the past. This is mainly because although we directly fund the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes, they are build and managed by organisations that have the direct links with tenants and first time buyers who benefit from [...]

Cashes Green consultation puts localism into action

I returned from the Easter break today to the good news that a planning application to transform the derelict Cashes Green Hospital in Stroud into new homes and community facilities has been submitted to the local planning authority to consider. I blogged in January about the impressive level of consultation that had gone into shaping the proposals that [...]

Affordable homes blend into Exmoor beauty

I visited a site today in one of the most beautiful villages I have ever been to, where the HCA is supporting the construction of new affordable housing. Wheddon Cross in Exmoor is one of those picturesque villages most people would dream of living. Situated on top of the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, with a [...]

Four things taken from Torquay this year

The Chartered Institute of Housing’s South West conference in Torquay seems to have been a success this year, in spite of the cutbacks that have hit sponsorship budgets and delegate numbers and made events like this much more difficult to put on. The CIH is a key partner for the HCA and this is a really important event [...]

Communities of Practice offers food for thought

I’ve been working with HCA colleagues recently on putting together a group on the excellent Communities of Practice website for public sector professionals. For those unfamiliar with the site (although it seems like an awful lot of people use it), Communities of Practice is a series of networks, set up by people working right across the public sector to share information and communicate on a [...]

High Bickington lauded as localism flagship

I blogged last month about an inspiring community-led scheme in High Bickington, Devon, which has brought villagers together to deliver badly needed housing and workspace for local people. I was delighted this morning to read the two-page write-up Planning magazine had devoted to the project, following a visit and some interviews organised at the site a [...]

Purdah poses challenges – but it shouldn’t shut us up

It seems like weeks since the general election last year, which resulted in a period of political sensitivity (aka ‘purdah‘) that lasted until well into the summer while the new Government was establishing itself. Purdah is the term that covers the regulations restricting what can (and mostly can’t) be said and done before an election.  The unusual events [...]

Proof of the PR is in the coverage

I blogged this week about the HCA’s Cranbrook announcement and the importance of being ready to release the news as soon as plans for the first phase of work were approved by local councillors. Links to some of the positive online media coverage, which thankfully demonstrate that the effort was worthwhile, can be found here, here and here. I’m looking forward to getting the newspaper coverage tomorrow. [...]

Good PR needs more than ‘great stories’

I’ve been working on an announcement for at least a couple of months, which has only seen the light of day today. It relates to the HCA’s decision to invest £16.6m in the delivery of 300 affordable homes and infrastructure at Cranbrook, a proposed new town near Exeter.