The Homes and Communities Agency
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) was formed on the 1st December 2008 and brings together English Partnerships; the Housing Corporation, some programmes from Communities and Local Government and the transfer of the Academy for Sustainable Communities.
The HCA is now the national housing and regeneration agency for England, with an annual investment budget of more than £5bn. The HCA is now responsible for all affordable housing funding. The Agency focuses on delivering more new and affordable homes across all tenures and will drive and invest in regeneration. It supports regeneration and provides decent places as well as decent homes, For example, by grant funding social housing and investing in infrastructure.
The Homes and Communities Agency objectives are supported with a number of powers that will enable it to secure its desired outcomes. In late December 2008, the HCA launched “The Single Conversation”| which will enable the partners to the Single Conversation to bridge local ambition and national targets, achieve their vision through a shared investment agreement, agree and secure local delivery and achieve positive outcomes for people and places.
In line with its ambitions to build and acquire new homes for ownership and management, GCH has previously attained accreditation to manage properties on behalf of others (2007) and Investment Partner status with the Housing Corporation (2008). It is important that GCH works closely with the HCA by holding regular liaison meetings and, with GCC, engages in the single conversation that the HCA has recently launched, to ensure GCH is seen to be, and able to, operate as an effective partner with the HCA.
GCH will wish to support the Council in terms of providing capacity, expertise, evidence, understanding communities and supporting community engagement linked to the single conversation in terms of the developing local investment plans in Gloucester and secure investment funding through the HCA.
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will operate on a regional basis with a South West Agency being created. GCH will establish a very close working relationship with regional HCA to ensure the Council’s and our interests are achieved in partnership with them.