The ULI’s recent Public Private Partnerships event at the House of Lords, led by Lord Kerslake, encouraged guests to first and foremost approach all property developments with courage. With this theme of courage, Lord Kerslake emphasised the importance of applying it to the creation and delivery of transformational schemes in areas of regeneration, at which the residents are placed at the heart of these schemes.

The conversation Lord Kerslake led was detailed, and coloured with his vast experience in both industry and government, offering a fascinating insight into both. When discussing housing supply Lord Kerslake emphasised the common misconception of the housing crisis the UK is currently facing. Housing supply, not home ownership is the root of this crisis, and the centralised structure of the planning control system a key contributor.

How do we in the industry best seek to improving housing supply? Lord Kerslake advised:

1. Collaboration between private and public partners
2. Courage to proceed with challenging schemes in the areas that need it most
3. Decentralisation of the planning control system

Words by Pippa Mitchell, TowerEight