Arm's-length management organisations must be granted access to social housing grant, ALMO supporters have demanded.
The government's consultation on extending the grant to private developers ended on Monday and, at last week's Chartered Institute of Housing conference, the National Federation of ALMOs called for arm's-length organisations to get the same rights and funds to build new homes.

At a workshop last Thursday, Phil Davis, director of ALMO Derby Homes, argued that grants should be "broadened to include ALMOs". NFA chairman Gordon Perry added that arm's-length bodies should lobby government on the issue.

Mike Wilkinson, who is responsible for arm's-length policy at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, acknowledged the demand for the extension of social housing grant, but remained tight-lipped about the government's thoughts on the matter. "It is certainly an idea that has got considerable support. You will not get if you do not ask."

Although a popular idea among ALMOs, the move would leave the Housing Corporation in the odd position of funding new council homes. Hugh Broadbent, executive director of Oldham ALMO First Choice Homes, added that the organisations should be at the forefront of regeneration in their areas. "The decent homes standard is too narrow. ALMOs should get a regeneration role."

Source

Housing Today