The rebalancing of grant funding in favour of local authorities does not “necessarily need to come at the expense of housing associations”

Speaking at the Housing Community Summit in Liverpool, Matthew Pennycook tried to reassure housing associations that the government's refocus of resources from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme towards council housebuilding was not a "zero-sum game".  He said that private registered providers would "continue to play a key role in the delivery of social and affordable homes" while arguing that "the revival of council housebuilding that this government is working to deliver should complement, not threaten" the contribution of the housing association sector.  He encouraged housing associations to work in partnership with councils, through joint ventures and the alignment of development plans.  A second round of strategic partnership funding is unlikely due to the devolution of control of the grant programme to elected mayors, although some other form of longer-term funding was being considerd.