Nottingham City Council was recognised as the most proactive public sector organisation at last month's Regen Green Energy Awards.  The win puts the council's approach to green energy innovation in the spotlight - work that has helped the council cut co2 emissions from its operations by 31% since 2005.  Jane Lumb, Head of Energy & Sustainability Policy, accepted the award for the council.  Read more here.

The win follows Nottingham being named as the country's smartest city for energy in October's UK Smart Cities Index thanks to its energy initiatives, many of which help improve the efficiency of local housing and helping reduce fuel poverty.

Nottingham City Council submitted its final scheme to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in early October.  As the proposed scheme designation covers over 20% of both the city’s private rented housing stock and its overall geographic area,  it must be confirmed by the Secretary of State - a decision is expected early in the new year.  Should the scheme be confirmed it is expected it will not commence until late spring 2018 at the earliest.

DCLG recently announced that London Borough of Newham’s scheme, incorporating all of the borough apart from the Olympic park, had been confirmed.

Open Homes Nottingham (formerly 58i) is a charity supporting 16-25 year olds who are homeless or living in inappropriate accommodation.  OHN launched in November 2017 although their main project, Nottingham Nightstop placing young people with host families for short stays, is well established.  OHN are also looking at move-on and shared accommodation solutions. 

Find out more including how to get involved  at www.openhomes.org.uk  or email admin@openhomes.org.uk for general enquiries.

Rough sleeping has risen dramatically in recent years both nationally and locally.  Naturally when faced with this most visible form of homelessness many people want to help, but what is the best way?  Help Out Nottingham is a new information and advice website where you can find out exactly that along with details of complementary services available and some common misconceptions of rough sleeping.  If you spot a rough sleeper in Notts it's important you notify Framework's Street Outreach on 0800 066 5356.

Every year Nottingham updates its  Cold Weather Plan, setting out its approach to helping rough sleepers and the support services available during the winter period.  You can download the latest plan from the Homelessness document library of the Nottingham Insight website.

A major new council housing development has recently been completed in the Meadows area.  55 new houses and bungalows replaced demolished unsustainable Q block flats & maisonettes and the former decommissioned sheltered housing scheme at Cromarty Court.

The area is seeing significant regeneration following Blueprint schemes near the Embankment and with construction of a large scale residential scheme underway along Arkwright Walk.

Nottingham City Council's Loxley House offices hosted a regional Chartered Institute and Homes & Communities event bringing together professionals to discuss how councils, housing associations, government agencies and other partners can work together to accelerate housing delivery in the region.  

Key issues that came up repeatedly during the workshop were: 

• Building costs and labour shortages
• The danger of seeing the planning system as the entire problem/solution
• Viability of social/affordable homes
• Government policy sometimes acting as a brake to delivery, particularly for councils and housing associations

Overall, the workshop was a very positive, stimulating event, showing that across the region and within all tenures there is a real appetite to deliver more of the homes that are needed.

Tweet your own views and issues on this subject using the hashtag #morehomesEM

According to the UK Housing Price Index, which uses Land Registry sale data, the average price of a home in Nottingham was £139,386 in October 2017.

Growth in the East Midlands has been strong at 6.99% in the year to October 2017, but in Nottingham it was stronger still at 10.02% - the average property costing an extra £12,695 than it did the year before. 

Nottingham is still a relatively affordable place to live; its housing around 1/3rd cheaper than the regional average price (£184,544) and 2/3rds less than national average price (£223,807)

The latest Hometrack 20 Cities house price index shows Nottingham is among a cluster of English cities in or near the Midlands outperforming other regions in recent months, including Birmingham, Manchester & Leeds.

Hometrack shows median private sector rents in the year to November 2017 have changed very little in the city, with the median rent for a 2 bed house costing £132 - the same as 6 months previously.

Rental growth in the UK has been generally weak, rising just 1.4% in the year to November 2017 according to the ONS Index of Private Housing Rental Prices, whose data is only available at a regional level.  However the East Midlands does top regional rental price growth at 2.7%. 

These figures again appear to confirm that recent policy changes such as mortgage interest tax relief have had little effect on rental prices.  This may change as policies continue to be implemented including the ban on charging letting agent fees to tenants.

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