The new homes in new ways summit: reasons to be hopeful

It’s hard to believe it’s been just over a month since the New Homes in New Ways Summit. Building on the momentum of the New Homes in New Ways exhibition at the Building Centre, the Summit gathered industry leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to spark collaborative action to change the way we deliver homes for the sake of the most vulnerable. As the Housing Festival team, we can only say - what a turn out, what an inspirational group of people, and what a hopeful two days! 

The Summit underscored the urgency of collectively addressing the Temporary Accommodation crisis, and in particular child homelessness, and recognised that now is the critical moment to act with a focus on both immediate solutions to address the cost pressures and longer-term to drive systemic solutions.

The modular home on the crescent, provided by Wates Group and Rollalong, is a brilliant demonstration of how demountable homes and temporary use of land can expediently provide alternatives to expensive and poor-quality Temporary Accommodation, saving councils money and providing quality homes for residents. However, it was also clear that to address the problem at its root, a whole-systems approach is required to unlock and scale up new social rent home delivery – the focus of the MMC Playbook. 

“Over the two days, we’ve heard from leaders, disruptors, and those working tirelessly to change the way we deliver homes. We’ve explored real solutions, challenged outdated thinking, and shared an overwhelming sense of urgency. The message was loud and clear—this is an emergency, and we need to do better. – Gaynor Tennant 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Summit, and for our many friends across the sector that join us in this work. The Summit has fuelled our fire, let’s continue until the job is done.  

Reasons to be hopeful 

We left the Summit feeling incredibly encouraged by the passion and drive of so many of you to see the Government’s ambition of 1.5 million homes realised.  Here is what a selection of delegates and speakers had to say about why they left hopeful: 

• The progress being made to increase social housing stock in London, as communicated by Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London, including initiatives like ‘right to buy back’ and the social rent homes acquisition strategy. 

• The many stories of collaborative efforts, including Cllr Kieron William’s case study of more than 107 councils willing to work together to tackle housing challenges. 

• The potential of the impending Future Homes standard as an incentive for MMC adoption, as shared by Lord Best. 

• The potential of MMC to deliver practical, cost-effective housing at remarkable speed, as demonstrated by the modular home on the crescent, provided by Wates Group and Rollalong. 

• Darren Alexander’s examples of work being done with temporary housing and the financial impact it’s having on local authorities. 

Missed it? Here are the key takeaways 

 Who better to inform the list of takeaways than the than the delegates themselves. These are collated from delegate feedback on the Summit. 

You are can also watch all of the sessions on our YouTube Channel. 

• The link between poor housing and health issues. MMC could improve housing quality, enhance health outcomes, and ease NHS pressures. 

• Standardisation in MMC and aggregated demand is needed to improve efficiency and reduce costs and may increase confidence for lenders. 

• Legal and procurement challenges: Partnering Contracts (PPC) and FAC-1 can boost collaboration and resource pooling to scale MMC adoption, and Local Authorities need to be upskilled in MMC-related legal frameworks. 

• Energy-efficient homes and affordability: Energy efficient homes will positively impact affordability, bills for residents and could include selling energy back to the grid.  

• A clearer way of understanding land supply is needed. PropTech has a key role to play here.  

• Planning reform and utilising existing planning mechanisms is crucial as outdated processes often delay or derail innovative projects (and LDO (Local Development Order) could be something we can do now.

• Creative funding models are needed alongside innovative construction methods and commitment to social impact to see lasting change.  

The Summit is over, but the work continues! Let’s continue to work together to see our collective ambition lead to collective leadership, and result in lasting change.  

To stay updated on post-summit actions and events, register your interest here.   

What others are saying about the Summit:

Turning ambition into action | Accelerating MMC housing delivery, by Akerlof

Key takeaways from the New Homes in New Ways summit, by Trowers and Hamlins.

Dispatches from Store Street: Russell Curtis, Director, RCKa, Architecture Today