housing providers, council members, developers, and building professionals held their first Housing Summit to address the local housing crisis in Bath and North East Somerset on July 9.

The event, organised by housing association and house-builder Curo and Bath and North East Somerset Council, attracted more than 100 people to take part, including speakers from Places for People, Alliance Homes, Bromford Housing, Avon Pension Fund, Bath Preservation Trust, and Homes England.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has embarked on a house-building programme and is committed to improving availability of affordable housing, accessible to local jobs and services, as set out in its recent Economic Strategy. 

Victor da Cunha, chief executive of Curo, said: “Bath and North East Somerset is an area with high property prices and below-average earnings. Average house prices are around £430,000 while average private monthly rents are around £1,549. Demand for social housing outstrips supply – currently 5,500 families are on the waiting list, while only 700 were housed last year.

 “While we are building hundreds of homes every year, there’s so much more needed.”

Councillor Matt McCabe, B&NES cabinet member for built environment, housing and sustainable development, said: “Housing is broken. We can’t keep doing the same thing over and over again. Today, we’re asking all participants in the housing system: what can we do to effect change?

He added: “We’re committed to working collaboratively with the sector and to helping improve people’s lives with the right homes in the right places.”

Bath and North East Somerset Council has launched a house-building programme with the aim of increasing the availability of affordable housing. This initiative is in line with the council's recent economic strategy, which prioritises ensuring that housing is accessible to local jobs and services.

Victor said: “Early signs suggest that they look like they mean business on housing. It meaningfully mattered as an issue in the general election for the first time I can remember. In the first 72 hours we have seen them seize the day with announcements on house building. Housing providers and councils need to capitalise on this momentum.

“I’ve been asked by the council to chair the housing pillar of their new Economic Strategy,” said Victor. “Our task now is to corral this energy, work with the local community and create a plan that delivers at scale the affordable housing local people need.”