The Hidden Homelessness Epidemic & Modern Methods Of Construction: Dave Hughes

Paul discusses with David Hughes, design director of Hughes Architects, focusing on the pressing issue of temporary housing in the UK. They delve into the staggering costs incurred by councils on temporary accommodation, particularly in London, where the financial burden has reached £114 million per month.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Temporary Housing Crisis: There are currently 117,000 households in temporary accommodation in the UK, with London accounting for about half of that number. The financial burden on councils is significant, with London councils spending £114 million per month on temporary housing.

Need for Immediate Solutions: The discussion emphasizes the urgency of addressing the temporary housing crisis, suggesting that while building permanent social housing is essential, it typically takes four to five years. In the meantime, there is a need for quicker, temporary solutions to provide better living conditions for families currently in substandard accommodations.

Modular Housing Proposal: A proposed solution involves using modular housing units on unused or stalled sites, which can be set up quickly and leased to councils for temporary use. This approach aims to provide better living conditions than hotels or B&Bs while being more cost-effective than current temporary housing options.

Planning Challenges: The planning process is identified as a significant barrier to delivering housing quickly. The complexity and length of the planning requirements often delay projects, and there is a call for a more flexible approach to temporary housing that recognizes the urgent need for crisis responses.

Collaboration with Local Authorities: Engaging with local authorities and private landowners is crucial for the success of the modular housing initiative. The goal is to identify suitable sites and run feasibility studies to determine the viability of temporary housing solutions, ultimately aiming to alleviate the financial and social pressures of the current housing crisis.

BEST MOMENTS

Dave: "The ridiculous amount that councils are spending on temporary housing is a massive financial issue and a quality of life issue for people."

Paul: "The problem is, planners at the moment act like they're the police, when actually it is an emergency they should be acting like the fire service."

Dave: "We can get temporary planning permission for five years for temporary housing on unused sites, and the modular providers then lease those homes to the council."

ABOUT THE HOST

Paul Higgs is a Chartered Planning and Development Surveyor with 40+ years' experience in land, planning and development and a 100% success track record in winning planning consents.

Paul undertook his first refurb project when he was just 17 and then worked his way up from labouring on building sites to becoming Head of Land for renowned plc housebuilder, Barratt Developments. He managed to escape the corporate world in 2002 to set up what is now a multimillion-pound award-winning property development company, Millbank Group.

In 2013 Paul founded the Millbank Land Academy, the UK’s first training company dedicated to property development; to teach established and aspiring developers the insider secrets the big housebuilders don’t want you to know!

Paul is also a founding investor and former board director of the industry-leading PropTech Co, LandTech, and has lectured on Advanced Development Valuations on the MSc Property Development at London South Bank University.

CONTACT METHOD

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs

Millbank Land Academy: https://www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/paulhiggsofficial

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@InsidePropertyDevelopment

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/