Successful applicants for LGA’s Housing Advisers Programme announced

Twenty-one councils have been successful in their applications for the Local Government Association’s 2022/23 Housing Advisers Programme (HAP), an innovative scheme to help councils overcome housing challenges in their local areas.

The programme funds the provision of independent expertise for councils undertaking specific projects to tackle the effects of the affordable housing crisis in local communities – including on housing delivery, planning for homes, and reducing homelessness.

In the previous five years of the programme, the LGA has supported more than 150 projects across England, helping councils build homes, reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, plan for ageing populations, understand the student housing market, increase supply of modular housing and more.

The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, has awarded up to £20,000 to each project for the purpose of securing expert advice to drive forward locally led solutions to housing challenges.

The projects include innovative approaches to support green retrofit, exploring the potential of modern methods of construction (MMC) to provide temporary accommodation, working with disabled people to improving the accessibility and inclusivity of new developments and support to help councils deliver more local homes in challenging times.

Following the programme, knowledge and expertise learnt and developed will be shared with other councils and become part of the LGA’s sector-led improvement offer.

Cllr David Renard, LGA housing spokesperson, said:

“We are delighted to announce the successful applicants of the latest round of the Housing Advisers Programme.

“The Housing Advisers Programme is an important part of the LGA’s sector-led improvement offer, working in partnership with central government to empower councils to meet their local challenges. HAP has delivered huge benefits to councils since it was first launched, helping local areas address the challenges of the housing crisis.

“It has proven an excellent source of knowledge and expertise for councils, sharing innovative ideas and ways to improve, whether it’s building new homes, tackling homelessness or planning thriving and flourishing places and economies.”