Seminar followed on from the AoU’s hugely successful 2019 Congress in Eindhoven.

The Academy convened a follow-up to the 2019 Congress to explore further the issue of affordable housing and the success of neighbourhoods.

The event brought together a number of experts who presented practical examples and learning from community, council and housing association-led housing. These covered schemes from within London, but also Sheffield, where we heard about a joint venture between Sheffield City Council and Keepmoat and Great Places, as well as Bridport in Dorset, which is the UK’s largest co-housing scheme.

The event concluded with a discussion between Paul Hackett, chief executive of Optivo Homes, Mary Parsons, group director of placemaking and regeneration at Places for People, and Lord Richard Best OBE. The discussion was chaired by Paul Hackett, director of the Smith Institute.

Presentations

Session 1: Council-led affordable housing

A Housing Revolution – Janice Morphet and Ben Clifford (presentation given by Janet Sutherland)

Sheffield Housing Company – John Clephan, Director, Sheffield Housing Company

Affordable housing in Croydon – Zohra Chiheb, Regeneration Manager, London Borough of Croydon

Session 2: Community building and the co-production of affordable housing and place

Introduction to Community Building and Co-producion – Stephen Hill, Chair, UK Cohousing Network (session chair)

Community-led initiatives in London – St Clements Hospital site, the Mayor’s Small Sites Programme, and other London affordable housing campaigns – Calum Green, Chief Executive, London CLT

The story of the UK’s largest Co-housing Project Bridport – Monika King, Bridport CLT and Jim Hudson, Researcher, LSE

Session 3: Is achieving affordable and well designed homes and places mission impossible?

Paul Hackett, CEO, Optivo Homes

Mary Parsons, Group Director, Placemaking and Regeneration, Places for People and Chair, TCPA

This event was kindly hosted at Karakusevic Carson Architects at their studio in Bermondsey, London.