Councils play a critical role in tackling the housing supply challenge. The LGA offers targeted programmes that support councils in developing the skills and capacity to deliver innovative housing solutions.
Housing support offers are provided through a number of programmes in addition to ongoing engagement with government and stakeholders:
- The Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS) is a new, fully funded support programme designed to provide capacity and capability support at no cost to councils seeking to establish, enhance or accelerate their council housebuilding programmes.
- Housing, Planning and Homelessness – as house builders, housing enablers, and landlords; as planners, place-shapers, and agents of growth, transport and infrastructure; as responsible guardians to the vulnerable and the homeless; and as democratically accountable to communities – local government is at the heart of the housing solution.
- The Housing and homelessness hub highlights good practice in the delivery of affordable housing and tackling of homelessness by councils and partner organisations.
- Our award-winning One Public Estate programme, delivered in partnership by the LGA, Office of Government Property (OGP) within the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), supports locally led partnerships of public sector bodies to kickstart regeneration and transform public service delivery.
- The Brownfield Land Release Fund is a cross-government initiative between the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and One Public Estate (OPE) which is delivered in partnership by the LGA and the Cabinet Office. Delivered through funding rounds, councils are able to use funds to clear empty buildings, former car parks and industrial land to make way for the homes.
- The Planning Advisory Service runs 14 projects funded by HMCLG, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England. We provide high-quality help, advice, support and training on planning and service delivery to councils. We help local government officers and councillors stay effective and up to date. We have a sector-led improvement approach, where local authorities help each other to continuously improve.
- Our graduate scheme, Pathways to Planning, will equip talented individuals to fast track their career as a planner in local government.
- The national fire safety Joint Inspection Team (JIT) is hosted by the LGA and funded by MHCLG. The JIT is a multidisciplinary team with fire engineers, building control surveyors and environmental health officers. The team is supported by intelligence officers and external legal advisors.
