Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips, comments on the Michael Gove interview in Inside Housing

That takes us to Mr Gove’s idea for how this could be achieved. Two streets down from DLUHC’s headquarters in Westminster is Page Street, one of London’s most striking housing estates. Its chunky, chequered blocks were the work of the Duke of Westminster, who was looking for a legacy. He gifted the lease to the council in 1929 and commissioned high society architect Edwin Lutyens to design homes specifically “for the working classes”.

A century later, as housing associations struggle to maintain their development programmes under economic pressure, Mr Gove says this altruistic vision for high-quality social rent homes might be reinvigorated. “We can look at some of the existing major landowners who are keen, out of a sense of stewardship, to provide more land for development, and who are keen to ensure that when that land is developed, there is a mix of genuinely affordable and socially rented homes, to do more,” he says.

Prince William’s initiative to use his private estate, the Duchy of Cornwall, for more social rent homes is one example, he suggests. “We are convening conversations with other major landowners in order to see if we can do more, because if you’ve got a whole society approach… then we can build on the progress that we’ve made.”

Extract from Inside Housing Magazine, published 5 March 2024, by James Riding

I read with great interest the Inside Housing interview (5 March 2024) with Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities of the United Kingdom by James Riding.

In the frank piece, Gove sets out his course for social housing amidst a world of affordable housing offers that include a growing ‘for profit’ sector. As he mentions, we need more homes that people can afford – yes, definitely – but, as Gove says, it is not just about numbers –  it must also be about scale and community connection. How much better would it be if we can build affordable housing in the communities where the residents already have connections, reducing isolation and loneliness?

Michael Gove states that “By expanding the number of homes for social rent, you can reduce the housing benefit bill overall, and you can give people a sense of stability and community” 

We could not agree more with the sentiment of his message. More affordable – proper affordable – homes (not at 80% of market rents but at a level that does not create hardship for residents) are, without any doubt, desperately needed. And one of the ways this could be achieved is to help release the shackles placed upon the charity affordable homes sector (which includes almshouses).  Unlike large housing associations, these small-scale local housing models, that date back centuries and centuries, are providing people with affordable homes and enabling them to stay in their local communities.

Recent evidence shows that living in almshouse communities not only adds quality of life for residents, it’s also adding years to their lives while reducing costs for the healthcare sector.

Almshouses can be part of the solution to providing more affordable, community led housing that have amongst the lowest charges (they charge a weekly maintenance contribution, not rent) in the sector and consistently offer homes within strong micro-communities. Government would only need to formerly recognise the almshouse model as ‘affordable housing’ under the Governments planning policy and grant local councils permission to offer small plots of land for new almshouses to be built.

In today’s world of increased isolation, loneliness, lack of community and very limited affordable housing, the time to celebrate and support this valuable asset is now.

When Michael Gove says, “We absolutely need more homes for social rent,” …. almshouses can be part of the solution – they are  established, proven, and are one of our historic success stories. Recognising almshouses in the National Planning Policy Framework will free up local councils to support almshouses under Section 106 which will follow with more almshouses being built in the community, benefiting more people in housing need for generations to come.  

The next generation of almshouses may not be just for older people in need but for others who would benefit from warm, safe secure homes in strong communities. Indeed they now include young families, young single people, young people leaving care or refugees and the homeless.

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak to Michael Gove and to take him on a tour of some of the thriving almshouse charities in his area – it won’t disappoint!

11 March 2024