Category: Gov Press Releases

The £163 million fund is available for community-led groups to drive forward their ambitions for delivering new affordable housing schemes across England up to 31st March 2020.

Phase One of the fund launched in July, supports applications for capacity building, pre-development revenue funding and capital funding for local infrastructure projects.

Phase Two bidding is now open to eligible organisations to bid for capital grants to fund the costs of acquiring land and building community-led housing schemes.

The fund aims to give local people a leading and lasting role in delivering local affordable housing.

Jackie Jacob, General Manager for Housing Programmes, at Homes England said: “Community-led housing is about giving local people the lead to solve local housing problems and provide affordable homes in their communities.

“At Homes England, we’re committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing where it’s most needed. It’s great to make funding available for community groups across England to transform how the homes are delivered locally.”
Bidding is open to a range of organisations. Both Local authorities and Registered Providers may apply on behalf of community groups to support them through this process.

Bidding for both phases is now open on a Continuous Market Engagement basis via the Homes England Portal. This will remain open to new applications until funding is fully committed or until 31 December 2019, whichever occurs first.

Further details are available in the Prospectus and the Addendum to the Prospectus for Phase Two published on Gov.uk

For further media information please contact:

Nosheen Haque, 0161 200 6131, nosheen.haque@homesengland.gov.uk
Or Patsy Cusworth, 020 7393 2201, patsy.cusworth@homesengland.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

In order to ensure that the schemes supported by the Community Housing Fund are truly community-led, proposals should ensure that:

• Meaningful community engagement and consent occurs throughout the development process. The community does not necessarily have to initiate and manage the process, or build the homes themselves, though some may do;

• The local community group or organisation owns, manages or stewards the homes and in a manner of their choosing, and this may be done through a mutually supported arrangement with a Registered Provider that owns the freehold or leasehold for the property; and

• The benefits to the local area and/or specified community must be clearly defined and legally protected in perpetuity.

Bidding is open to all organisations which are, or intend to become, constituted as a body corporate, or an equivalent form of constituted body. Eligible organisations include, but are not restricted to:

• Registered charity;

• Company Limited By Guarantee;

• Community Benefit Society

• Co-operative Society;

• Community Interest Company;

• An organisation of another type operating as a social enterprise and principally reinvesting their surpluses for social benefit;

• Registered Provider of social housing; or

• Local authority.

Organisations which intend to be the landlord of low-cost rental properties funded by Homes England capital grant programmes must be – or intend to become – registered as a provider of social housing (a ‘registered provider’) with the Social Housing Regulator (‘the Regulator’) before completion of any developments funded through those programmes and any payment of funding. It is not, however, a requirement to be a registered provider before applying for Homes England grant.

The requirement to be a registered provider does not apply to organisations that will not act as the landlord of low-cost rental property. Where an organisation is delivering homes for low-cost homeownership – including shared ownership – for example, there is no requirement for that organisation to be a registered provider.

Local authorities or Registered Providers may apply on behalf of community groups and other organisations and, in those cases, the lead bidding organisation will remain directly accountable for the funds, where appropriate.
For applications not directly submitted by community-led organisations the applicant must demonstrate how the identified community will be engaged in the development proposal and how this will support the objectives of the Fund.

All organisations applying to the Fund will be required to submit details of the proposed activity through the Homes England bidding portal

Homes England is the new housing delivery organisation that has been created to adopt a more commercial approach to respond to the long term housing challenges facing this country. The new, expanded agency will play a far bigger role in investing in supply and intervening in the market to help deliver 300,000 homes a year by the middle of the next decade.

Homes England will act differently from its predecessor, bringing together money, land, expertise and planning and compulsory purchase powers to accelerate the supply of new homes and address affordability issues in areas of highest demand.

For more information visit Gov.uk or follow us on Twitter

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published detailed plans to improve standards at HMP Birmingham which follow the unprecedented decision to take over running of the prison from G4S on 20 August, for at least the next six months.

The Prison Service placed a new experienced Governor, Paul Newton, in charge immediately and has also brought in 32 skilled prison officers and five new custodial managers (who oversee teams of officers) to provide support to colleagues and offenders and improve safety.

The 300-person reduction in HMP Birmingham’s population which the MoJ committed to after ‘step-in’ is two-thirds complete and is expected to be finished by the end of September, with four local courts now diverting some of those convicted or on remand to other prisons. This reduction will allow the prison to empty and improve three wings in the Victorian section of the prison which are most in need of refurbishment.

Safety teams brought in by the Prison Service are working with all staff at HMP Birmingham to reduce self-harm and violence. They have developed a tailored safety plan which will be implemented by the end of September, and training is already underway with all staff to immediately improve the way vulnerable offenders are managed.

Two senior and experienced facilities management staff are working with the prison to drive urgent improvement in living conditions. They will support ongoing work to refurbish wings and cells, replace damaged furniture and improve cleanliness throughout the establishment.

The action plan published today is the formal response to HMIP’s Urgent Notification – a system set up by this Government to allow the inspectorate to immediately flag serious concerns during an inspection.

Justice Secretary David Gauke said:

We acted decisively at HMP Birmingham by taking it over from G4S, just as we are addressing issues in the wider estate by investing heavily in more staff and measures to improve safety and security.

The Prison Service had been working with G4S for many months to drive up standards at Birmingham, but it became clear that they would not be able to make the necessary improvements alone.

That’s why we took over the running of the prison, appointed a strong governor to turn it around, brought in extra staff and began improvements to the building itself.

This plan sets out in more detail exactly what we are doing to establish an effective regime, restore safety and decent living conditions, and allow staff to focus on rehabilitating offenders.

Other actions included in this initial plan include:

• The work that Governor Paul Newton has done with G4S to consider short-term workforce issues, effective management of workforce plans and training requirements. Together they have developed and introduced recruitment, training and mentoring strategies for all staff, including senior managers.
• The national drugs taskforce undertaking an assessment of what further action is required to tackle drug supply and reduce demand, and improve the treatment and recovery of those with misuse problems.
• A review of the Samaritans’ Listener scheme to ensure vulnerable prisoners have swift access to support.
• New processes to ensure maintenance of cell call bells systems is undertaken on a regular basis and to improve cell bell response times.
• Improvements to training and work-related activities and to support prisoners on release.
• Two new physical education instructors brought in to improve the wellbeing of prisoners, with another due imminently.

Notes to editors

• Read the full action plan.
• The final inspection report for HMP Birmingham will be published by HM Chief Inspector later this year.

The awards, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and sponsored by Visa, recognise and celebrate local achievements on our high streets and shine a light on great examples of how high streets can meet the challenges of changing consumer behaviour and a changing retail environment.

After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, 26 high streets have been shortlisted in the Champion high street category, which aims to find the UK’s best high street, while 12 high streets have been shortlisted in the Rising Star category, which aims to find the UK’s most ambitious high streets.

Shortlisted high streets – Champion category

England

• Queen Street, Amble, Northumberland (Northumberland County Council)
• Gloucester Road Bishopston, Bristol (Bristol City Council)
• Wimborne Town Centre, East Dorset (East Dorset District Council)
• High Street Alton, Alton, Hampshire, (Alton Town Counci)l
• Worcester High Street, Worcester (Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council)
• The Pantiles, Chapel Place and High Street Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Tunbridge Wells Borough Council)
• Hull Trinity Market and Hepworth’s Arcade, Kingston upon Hull, (Hull City Council)
• St Albans City Centre, Holywell Hill, George Street, High Street, Catherine Street and St Peter’s Street, St Albans (St Albans City & District Council)
• Guildford High Street, Guildford, Surrey (Guildford Borough Council)
• The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk (Suffolk Coastal)
• Altrincham High Street, (Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council)
• Poole High Street, Poole, Dorset, (Borough of Poole)
• Original Richmond Market Town, Richmond, (Richmondshire District Council)

Scotland

• Alness High Street, Alness (Highland Council)
• ‘Avenue 77’ – (A77- Pollokshaws/Kilmarnock Road Corridor), Glasgow
• Main Street / High Street, Turriff, Aberdeenshire Council
• High Street, Kirriemuir, Angus Council
• Kirkwall High Street , Orkney, Orkney Islands Council
• High Street Newport-on-Tay, Fife

Wales

• Holywell, Flintshire, (Flintshire County Council)
• Broad Street/High Street, Welshpool, Powys, (Powys County Council)
• Crickhowell High Street, Crickhowell, Powys, (Powys County Council)
• Carmarthen Town, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire (Carmarthenshire County Council)

Northern Ireland

• Cookstown Town Centre, Cookstown, (Mid Ulster District Council)
• Portadown Town Centre, Portadown, (Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council).
• High Street/Market Street Omagh, (Fermanagh and Omagh District Council).

Shortlisted high streets – Rising Star category

England

• Northwich, Cheshire, (Cheshire West and Chester Council)
• Burnley Road, Todmorden (Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council)
• Barnes High Street and Church Road, Barnes, London, (London Borough of Richmond upon Thames)

Scotland

• Prestwick Main Street, Prestwick, (South Ayrshire Council)
• High Street, Newport-on-Tay, Fife
• Ayr High Street, Ayr, (South Ayrshire Council)

Wales

• Pendre, Priory and High Street, Cardigan, Ceredigion, (Ceredigion County Council)
• Narberth, Narberth, Pembroke, (Pembrokeshire County Council)
• Cowbridge High Street, Cowbridge, The Vale of Glamorgan, (Vale of Glamorgan Council)

Northern Ireland

• Main Street, Larne, County Antrim, (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council)
• Bow Street, Lisburn City Centre, Lisburn Castlereagh, (Lisburn Castlereagh City Council)
• Armagh City Centre, County Armagh, (Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council)

The 38 finalists will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30% of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best.

Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information. The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.

High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:

Congratulations to all 38 high streets shortlisted for this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.

Over the next 6 weeks they have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they also battle it out in a public vote for the title of Britain’s best high street. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work taking place on our high streets, so get voting.

Sundeep Kaur, Head of UK & Ireland Merchant Services at Visa, added:

At a time when the nation’s high streets are transforming, this year’s Great British High Street Awards shortlist contains some fantastic examples of high streets and merchants which are evolving and embracing change to attract visitors.

It is genuinely heartening to see so many businesses and communities that are harnessing their adaptability, resilience and creativity to offer the services and experiences that today’s shoppers want.

The Great British High Street Awards 2018, which are being run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, sponsored by Visa and backed by other partners, is recognising and celebrating local achievements on our high streets and supporting the communities in which we live and work.

The initiative includes a competition to find the nation’s best high streets, with 1 winner being named in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for each of the 2 categories: the Champion and Rising Star awards. An overall winner will also be named.

Author and TV presenter Simon Reeve is a judge for the Great British High Street Awards 2018.

Simon Reeve said:

I’ve spent the last couple of months visiting independent high street retailers across the UK and I’ve been blown away by the passion and commitment shown by shopkeepers to keep their high streets alive, especially in this challenging climate.

The best examples are those that are listening closely to their customers and innovating to meet their demands. These are the shops and high streets that will stand the test of time.

In 2016, Blackburn in Lancashire was crowned the Great British High Street winner thanks to the determination of the community and local businesses who worked in partnership to drive improvements and overcome the challenges their high street was facing.

For more information about the Great British High Street Awards 2018 terms and conditions and details on how to vote, visit: thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk.

Further information

To get involved in the conversation, members of the public can support their local high street on social media using #MyHighStreet via:

• Facebook: facebook.com/TheGBHighSt
• Instagram: instagram.com/TheGBHighSt/
• Twitter: twitter.com/TheGBHighSt

Research

The research was conducted by 3Gem between 26 April and 8 May 2018 and surveyed 2,000 consumers and 750 independent high street retailers across the UK.

Prizes

The prizes include 4 x £5,000 contribution towards a street party for Champion Award winners; 4 x £5,000 grant towards a local community / technology project for Rising Star Award winners and; 1 x £10,000 grant for a local community project for the Overall UK Award winner. Visit thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk/terms for full terms and prize details.

UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade are partnering with global healthcare provider VAMED to showcase export opportunities for UK companies in Zambia at a supplier fair on 4 October 2018.

Companies attending the event will find out more about opportunities to supply VAMED’s Kasama Hospital project in Zambia, which will bring much-needed healthcare provision to the northern region of Zambia and improve the lives of nearly two million local residents.

Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, said:

The UK is at the forefront of technological innovation in healthcare, and our recently launched Export Strategy sets out how we will ensure that our world-class suppliers can thrive in a global marketplace. I am delighted that UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade are partnering with VAMED to harness UK expertise to deliver this transformational healthcare project, improving the lives of millions of people in Zambia.

John Griffin, VAMED UK, said:

Delivering world-class healthcare depends on cooperating with the leading suppliers in the field. We are delighted to team up with UK Export Finance and the Department for International Trade on this supplier fair and look forward to meeting suppliers who share our passion for improving healthcare provisions to communities around the world.

Apart from its activities in Zambia, VAMED is successfully active in many other countries in Africa and around the globe where the company is providing first class health care facilities in South and Central America, the Middle East and Asia. This event will also provide attendees with insight on VAMED´s global activities.

In addition, UK companies will learn how UKEF, as the UK’s export credit agency, can boost UK exports by providing financing for major international healthcare projects, as well as helping companies access trade finance to fulfil their international ambitions.

VAMED is a global provider for hospitals and other facilities in the healthcare sector. To date it has delivered 850 projects in more than 80 countries.

When completed, the Kasama hospital will have a capacity of over 300 beds, including 48 for paediatric patients, and eight theatres, and will help the Zambian Government improve healthcare in rural areas and reduce its dependence on overseas treatment.

Event Details

• Thursday 4 October 2018 08:30 – 17:30
• St James’ Court Hotel, 54 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AF
• Free to attend
• Deadline for registration – 26 September

This event follows the recent launch of the Export Strategy, which sets out how the government will support businesses of all sizes to make the most of the opportunities presented in markets around the world.

Background

UK Export Finance

1. UK Export Finance is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department, working alongside the Department for International Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.
2. It exists to ensure that no viable UK export should fail for want of finance or insurance from the private market. It provides finance and insurance to help exporters win, fulfil and ensure they get paid for export contracts.
3. Sectors in which UKEF has supported exports include: aerospace, healthcare, telecommunications and transport.
4. UKEF has a regional network of 24 export finance managers supporting export businesses. Find your local representative here.
5. Find UKEF’s latest country cover positions.
6. UKEF supports exporters with a range of products that include:

• Bond insurance policy
• Bond support scheme
• Buyer & supplier credit financing facility
• Direct lending facility
• Export insurance policy
• Export refinancing facility
• Export working capital scheme
• Letter of credit guarantee scheme

About VAMED

Founded in 1982, VAMED has become the leading global provider of a full line of services for hospitals and other health care facilities. The group has implemented about 850 projects in more than 80 countries on five continents. VAMED’s portfolio ranges through project development, planning and turnkey equipment, with an option for maintenance, technical, commercial and infrastructure services to total operational management of health care facilities.

With its portfolio of services, VAMED covers the entire range of health care, from health tourism and preventive medicine including medical care and nursing to aftercare and rehabilitation. VAMED is Austria’s leading private provider of rehabilitation services and, through VAMED Vitality World, the company is also Austria’s largest operator of thermal spas and health resorts.

In the year 2017 the VAMED group was responsible for more than 18,000 staff worldwide, generating a volume of business of €1.7billion.

As part of the annual Strategic Dialogue between the UK and Japan, the Foreign Secretary will hold talks with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday, to discuss key areas of close cooperation, including our future economic partnership, security and defence, and foreign policy issues such as the Korean Peninsula.

Foreign Secretary Hunt will also meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to discuss the UK’s commitment to working with Japan during a very busy two years, which will see Japan host the G20, Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo. He will also offer condolences on the deaths and destruction caused by the recent Typhoon 21 in the Kansai area and earthquake in Hokkaido.

A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said:

The UK and Japan are both globally engaged, democratic nations, supporters of the rules-based international system.

As the UK leaves the European Union next March, the Foreign Secretary’s talks this week will be an opportunity to deepen our close cooperation on security and defence, and further enhancing our excellent trade relationship.

During his visit to Tokyo, Foreign Secretary Hunt will also meet the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike and donate an old mobile phone to the ‘phones for Tokyo 2020’ initiative, a project launched by Tokyo 2020 to recycle old electronic devices and turn them into medals ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

The Foreign Secretary will also host a breakfast meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Eisai, one of Japan’s largest pharmaceutical companies and tour Hie Shrine, the highly respected place of worship for the people of Tokyo.

Further information

• Follow the Foreign Secretary on Twitter @Jeremy_Hunt and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

Seven high streets across Wales have been shortlisted in this year’s Great British High Street Awards 2018.

The awards, run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and sponsored by Visa, recognise and celebrate local achievements on our high streets and shine a light on great examples of how high streets can meet the challenges of changing consumer behaviour and a changing retail environment.

After a rigorous selection process led by a panel of independent judges, four Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Champion high street category, which aims to find the UK’s best high street, while three Welsh high streets have been shortlisted in the Rising Star category, which aims to find the UK’s most ambitious high streets.

The shortlisted high streets in Wales are:

Champion Award

• Holywell, Flintshire
• Welshpool, Powys
• Crickhowell, Powys
• Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire

Rising Star Award

• Cardigan, Ceredigion
• Narberth, Pembrokeshire
• Cowbridge, Glamorgan

Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said:

This is fantastic news for all seven high streets in Wales recognised for their excellence and ambition to thrive in an increasingly competitive time.

High streets across Wales are the lifeblood of our societies, providing an opportunity for small businesses to set up shop and make a name for themselves, and for people to get together and support their communities by shopping locally.

Good luck to all of those high streets in the running in Wales, and I encourage everyone to show their support and vote for their favourite.

The 38 finalists across the UK will now battle it out in a public vote, which accounts for 30 per cent of the final scoring, and will then have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they seek to be crowned Britain’s best.

Those interested in participating in the public vote can visit www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk for more information. The winning entries for both the Champion and Rising Star categories will be announced on 15 November 2018 at an awards ceremony in London.

High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:

Congratulations to all 38 high streets shortlisted for this year’s Great British High Street Awards. The awards celebrate the great work that is being done to revive, adapt and diversify the nation’s high streets and the quality of entries this year has been outstanding.

Over the next six weeks they have the chance to impress an expert judging panel as they also battle it out in a public vote for the title of Britain’s best high street. This is a great opportunity to show your support for the hard work taking place on our high streets, so get voting.

For more information about the Great British High Street Awards 2018 terms and conditions and details on how to vote, visit: www.thegreatbritishhighstreet.co.uk

When things go wrong with rented properties, students have the right to get them fixed – and the government has published How To Rent guides to help out.

Government legislation protects students and their money from rogue landlords and agents. And new laws coming into force on 1 October, around the time when a new term starts, will mean landlords must provide adequate size bedrooms and sufficient rubbish bins.

Six things students should know on move-in day:

1. Your deposit must be protected in a government-backed scheme – get a certificate from your landlord or agent.
2. Check the property is safe – think fire, electrical, gas safety certificate, and hygiene. If you have concerns, raise them with your landlord or agent immediately.
3. Agree an inventory with your landlord or agent – or you could lose money when you move out.
4. By law, landlords must install a smoke alarm on each floor (and carbon monoxide alarms if needed) but it’s your job to regularly check they are working.
5. Know who is responsible for bills (water, electricity, gas) and take meter readings.
6. Landlords or agents must be reachable to fix problems quickly – make sure you have their contact details.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Heather Wheeler MP said:

Rogue landlords and agents should never get in the way of students enjoying university life and we’re working to stop them in their tracks.

We’ve brought in laws to crack down on bad operators and we have measures in place to protect tenants’ deposits.

We are going even further by changing the law to ban unfair letting fees and cap tenancy deposits.

We want students to know their rights – that landlords must do their job and fix leaks, keep heating working and install smoke alarms.

Landlords or agents must deal with any problems with the water, electricity and gas supply, and maintain appliances and furniture they have supplied. Councils can step in when landlords don’t do their job, and there are independent schemes to help resolve disputes with letting agents.

Houses lived in by 5 or more independent people will soon have to be licensed in an extension of laws which previously only covered buildings of 3 storeys or more.

Homes of any number of storeys will be covered under the extension, meaning more students will be helped – with tiny bedrooms (of less than 6.51 square metres for one adult) banned and landlords forced to provide the right bins to homes.

The laws will come in from 1st October but local authorities can give landlords up to 18 months to get bedroom sizes right.

As well as this, new regulations taking effect from 1st April 2019 will keep renters’ money safe by only allowing letting agents that join a government-approved client money protection scheme to handle their money.

Students should use the How to rent and How to rent a safe home checklists on Gov.uk.