A number of leading industry experts have recently been involved in a debate on housing provision in the south-west.

Hosted by Ashfords LLP, the debate asked attendees to explore challenges and potential solutions to delivering the required level of housing needed in the current economic climate.

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor was the key note speaker at the Plymouth University event on 07 November.

Professionals from across the planning, construction and housing sectors all attended the debate.


Other panel members were Paul Britton from Homes England, Russell Baldwinson of LiveWest, a large housing association, and Paul Barnard representing Plymouth City Council.

A variety of topics were discussed on the night, including the influence of the European housing model, our current housing supply, Homes England's new five year strategy and the need for a diversification of the current range of affordable housing products.

However, the common theme that emerged was that to deliver 300,000 homes a year there needs to be a step change in approach to deliver larger sustainable developments, driven by a master builder who is charged with creating a sense of place, which will provide a diverse mix of housing tenures to meet the demands of potential purchasers.

(CM/MH)