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Launch of partnership between Rethinking Housing Refurbishment and HMR Partnerships

17 June 2008

The partnership between the Housing Market Renewal Partnerships and the BRE led Rethinking Housing Refurbishment project was launched at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference at Harrogate on 17 June.

Details of the first HMR Partnership projects to join the flagship sustainable refurbishment programme were announced at the Fringe Session taking place in the Conference suite between.

BRE Associate Director Kate Symons hosted the session, speaking on the need for a step change in the housing agenda to embrace sustainable housing refurbishment. She said “We face a massive challenge as a nation in bringing our housing stock, which is in general older than that of other countries, up to a good quality. There is a lot of refurbishment activity now but little truly scientific research into the best and most cost effective techniques. This project aims to rectify that.”

Kate was joined by Hardial Bhogal, Director of Renew North Staffs, who introduced the first HMR Partnership case studies. These will provide the range of different housing types which will enable BRE to build up a bank of information on the best way to carry out sustainable refurbishment.

Property types will include back-to-backs, terraced houses, large Victorian villas and heritage buildings. The case studies chosen by BRE will be refurbished to a high BRE-approved specification, using newly tested and approved innovative products where appropriate.

By setting up, and closely monitoring and evaluating, a network of exemplar case studies across the country, BRE will then be able to issue national guidance on how to carry out sustainable refurbishment.

BRE is also advising the HMR Partnerships on drawing up a standardised cost benefit tool to advise on whether to demolish or refurbish.

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Editor's notes

For more information:
www.rethinkinghousingrefurbishment.co.uk

BRE Press enquiries
Linda McKeown: tel. 01923 664569 or email: mckeownl@bre.co.uk
Lucy Tennyson: tel. 07772228759 or email: tennysonl@bre.co.uk

HMR Partnerships
Hardial Bhogal, Director, Renew North Staffordshire: tel. 01782 232780/236426 or email: hardial.bhogal@tw1.stoke.gov.uk

HMRPs
In 2002 nine areas were identified by the Government as in need of specific housing market renewal support through the Pathfinder Programme. The Pathfinder Programme, however, is not just about housing. It is part of a much wider concerted effort to revitalised communities and economies across the North and West Midlands. It is there at the heart of efforts to make cities more competitive because we cannot reverse decline and attract skilled workers back unless they offer the quality and choice of housing that people are looking for.
People living in areas affected by low demand often have limited housing choices. Their homes are typically valued at prices significantly below local averages, making it difficult to move, even if their current home is no longer suitable for their needs. The stock available to them is often unpopular, with high levels of vacancies, and in poor condition. They can find themselves trapped in homes they cannot afford to maintain or improve.
These neighbourhoods have typically experienced long periods of economic decline, as job patterns have shifted and people have moved away to take up new opportunities. Though often situated close to or even within cities where the economy is growing, these neighbourhoods remain disconnected from the new jobs, with residents experiencing low skills levels, worklessness, high levels of crime or fear of crime, and poor facilities.

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