Housing is expected to be a major focus of the Labour Party’s conference, which kicks off this Sunday. As the housing crisis continues to dominate public concern, the party is expected to discuss its bold proposals on affordable housing, renters’ rights, and planning reform.
The conference is likely to include further detail on the party’s plans to build new homes, streamline planning, and improve tenant protections.
Senior figures, including housing minister Matthew Pennycook, are expected to address the issue directly, signalling that housing will be central to Labour’s message to party members.
Labour Housing Group (LHG) is launching its ‘Housing Zone’ at Labour Party Conference. The programme of 20 events covers a programme of housing policy from building 1.5 million homes to addressing homelessness and reforming leasehold and the private rental sector.
Find a list below of LHG’s events below:
Sunday 28th September
09:30 – 10:30: How can Labour councils and mayors be empowered to deliver the Government’s housing mission?
- Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council
- Sarah Calkin, LGC (invited)
- Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands
- John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council (Chair)
11:00 – 12:00 1.5 million homes and net zero – how can Labour reconcile its housing and climate goals? (In partnership with the Confederation of Timber Industries)
- Mete Coban, Deputy
Mayor of London for Environment and Energy - Jay Morton, Director at Bell Phillips Architects
- Andrew Oriss, Director at the Confederation of Timber Industries
- Luke Murphy MP, Chair of the APPG for Climate (Chair)
12:30 – 13:30 In-Conversation with Steve Rotherham
- Steve Rotherham, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region
- Jack Shaw, Chair of LHG (Chair)
14:00 – 15:00 How can Labour deliver for leaseholders?
- Rachel Blake MP, Co-Chair of Labour for Leaseholders
- Martin Hilditch, Editor of Inside Housing (Invited)
- David Pinto-Duschinsky MP, Co-Chair of Labour for Leaseholders
- Yuan Yang MP, Earley and Woodley (Invited)
- Alex Toal, Editor of Red Brick (Chair)
15:30 – 16:30 How can Labour make a success of New Towns? (In partnership with MTVH and RICS)
- Baroness Sharon Taylor, Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government (Invited)
- Mel Barrett, CEO of MTVH
- Chris Curtis MP, Co-Chair of Labour Growth Group
- Rachael Williamson, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing (Chair)
- Justin Young, CEO of RICS
17:00 – 18:00 Ministerial in-conversation
19:00 – 21:00 Built Environment Drinks Reception: progress on the 1.5m homes target (Invite-only)
Monday 29th September
09:30 – 10:30 What is needed to end homelessness and rough sleeping under Labour? (In partnership with Homelesslink and Riverside)
- Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
- Fiona Colley, Director of Social Change at Homelesslink
- Darren Murinas, Expert by experience
- Paul Dolan, Group Chief Executive of Riverside
- David Smith MP, Vice Chair of the APPG for Ending Homelessness (Chair)
11:00 – 12:00 How can Labour improve conditions in existing social homes? (In partnership with the Hyde Group)
- Neal Ackral, Chief Operating Officer of Hyde Group
- Dawn Butler MP, Member of Parliament for Brent East
- Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee (Invited)
- Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council
- Cllr Asma Islam, London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Chair)
12:30 – 13:30 Ministerial in-conversation (In partnership with Justlife)
14:00 – 15:00 Quality and Quantity: The importance of a qualified and trained built environment in Labour’s housing plans (Private roundtable) (In partnership with CIOB and FMB)
15:30 – 16:30 How can Labour reach 1.5 million homes through harnessing SMEs and innovative approaches? (In partnership with EDAROTH)
- Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister for Housing (Invited)
- Sarah Edwards MP, Chair of the APPG for SME Builders
- Mark Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis
- Mark Powell, Chief Executive of EDAROTH
17:00 – 18:00 How can the Labour Government solve the housing skills shortage? (In partnership with NHBC)
-
Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Small Business (Invited)
-
David Cambell, Chief Operating Officer at NHBC
- Lola McEvoy MP, Co-Chair of Labour Growth Group (Chair) (Invited)
Tuesday 30th September
08:00 – 09:00 How can Labour reform funding models to deliver a generational boost in social housing? (Private roundtable) (In partnership with EDAROTH)
09:30 – 10:30 How can Labour’s housing mission address rural and coastal poverty? (In partnership with English Rural Housing Association)
- David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire
- Jayne Kirkham MP, Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth
- Jo Lavis, Director at Rural Housing Solutions
- Martin Collett, Chief Executive of English Rural Housing Association
- Ruwani Purcell, Director of External Affairs, Citizens Advice
- Dr Tom Arnold, University of Liverpool (Chair)
11:00 – 12:00 Safe homes for survivors of domestic abuse – what does Labour need to do? (In partnership with Places for People)
- Jess Asato MP, Officer of the APPG for Domestic Violence and Abuse
- Polly Neate, Former Chief Executive of Shelter (Invited)
- Cllr Heather Johnston, London Borough of Camden (Chair)
12:30 – 13:30 Ministerial in-conversation (In partnership with The Property Institute)
15:30 – 16:30: What next for renters’ rights?
- Naushabah Khan MP, Member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee
- Joe Powell MP Member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee
- Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice
- Ben Twomey, Chief Executive of Generation Rent (Chair)
17:00 – 18:00 Labour Conference wrap-up: What have we learned about Labour’s plans for housing? (Invite-only)
Same old. Same old. Housing a priority along with everything else. When everything is a priority nothing is a priority! 1.5 Million homes Blah! Blah! Blah! Affordable, social rent Blah! Blah! Blah! etc. etc. Let’s see how many houses actually get built and who gets housed in them.
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