LEPs and Housing

Let’s Dance?

David Ashmore

www.greensquaregroup.com

Overview

• Swindon & Wiltshire LEP

• Why engage? The case for getting close

• How to engage

• Going forward – the changing dance floor

Swindon & Wiltshire LEP (I)

• 37th of 39 LEPs – approved July 2011

• Board appointed Feb 2012

• Area of 3,485 sq km - 44% in one of 3 AONB

- 780 sq km is Salisbury Plain

• Population total 661,600 - Swindon 201,800 (850 per sq km)

- Wiltshire 459,800 (140 per sq km)

Swindon & Wiltshire LEP (II)

• Enterprises 30,020 - Swindon 7,095

- Wiltshire 22,925

- 89% of businesses employ less than 10

• Households on housing waiting lists

22,689 - Swindon 12,035

- Wiltshire 10,654

Swindon & Wiltshire LEP (III)

Key outcomes by 2015:-

- Create 10,000 new jobs

- Safeguard 8,000 existing jobs

- Support new start ups

Swindon & Wiltshire LEP (IV)

Key Outcomes by 2015:-

- Securing deliverable strategic employment sites

- Super fast Broadband – 85%

across LEP inc 100% to key

employment sites

- Tackling youth unemployment

Swindon and Wiltshire LEP (V)

• Tourism

• Transport

• Rural economy

• Military - ‘Super Garrison’

- Lyneham

- Economic and housing impacts

Why Engage? The Case for

Getting Close (I)

• Growth, jobs, investment

• Links between planning, housing

and economic growth

• The added value of housing and construction

• Changing role and imperatives for

housing associations

Why Engage? The Case for

Getting Close (II)

• Tackling financial and

social exclusion –

increasing prosperity

• Skills and training agenda

especially for young

people

• Supporting local

enterprise & communities

How to Engage (I)

• The offer – HA’s as

businesses

• Sector profile in SW - Turn over of over £1bn

- Employ over 11000 people

- Significant supply chain

• Ideas, resources and

solutions

How to Engage (II)

• Providing range of housing options for employees

• The Growing Places Fund and other investment/assets

• Integrating Local Investment Plans

• Partnership, communication and changing perceptions

• Role of NHF, HCA, LAs, SWHI etc

Going Forward – The

Changing Dance Floor

• Localism and the

direction of travel

• The NPPF and

Housing Strategy

• New delivery models

• Beyond 2015

In Summary

• Understand the

LEPs agenda

• Ask for a dance

• Show them what

you can do!

www.greensquaregroup.com