Finance

The announcement in the last Budget of a 1% decrease in rents – instead of the consumer price index (CPI) +1% on which housing business plans had been based – has presented a real challenge to councils and housing associations alike. The cumulative impact is to make development schemes undeliverable and challenge whether plans of improvements to homes are affordable. Achieving better value for money is a mantra for us all, but what does and should this mean?

Launching its first major campaign since he became chief executive of Locality, Tony Armstrong talks to New Start about the power of local, community rights and being optimistic

————————————————————————————