Barratt Partners with Government to Build Thousands of New Homes
In a significant move to address the UK's housing shortage, Barratt Developments has entered into a joint venture with Homes England, the government's housing agency. This partnership, known as MADE Partnership, aims to develop multiple large-scale housing projects across the country, ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 homes each.
The MADE Partnership represents a novel approach to tackling the housing crisis in the UK. As a master developer, the partnership will oversee and manage the development of large-scale projects, coordinating the various stakeholders involved in the process. This role is crucial in ensuring the smooth execution of complex, multi-faceted housing developments.
In addition to Barratt Developments and Homes England, Lloyds Banking Group is also a key partner in this venture. The partnership has secured initial equity funding of up to £150 million, demonstrating a significant commitment to addressing the housing shortage in the UK.
Homes England has outlined an ambitious vision for the partnership, with potential opportunities including large brownfield developments, extensions to existing towns, and the creation of new garden village-style communities. This diverse range of development types reflects the partnership's flexible approach to meeting housing needs across different contexts and locations.
The partnership's focus on both brownfield sites and new communities demonstrates a balanced approach to development. By utilising brownfield sites, the partnership aims to regenerate previously developed land, while the creation of new garden villages offers the opportunity to design sustainable, well-planned communities from the ground up.
Government Support and Vision
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook has hailed the partnership as a "landmark" initiative that will help the government "ramp up" housing supply. Pennycook acknowledged past challenges in the development system, stating, "A failure to ensure the development system is working properly has held back the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes over recent years." He emphasised the government's commitment to working in partnership with those focused on improving housing delivery.
This statement underscores the government's recognition of the need for collaborative efforts between public and private sectors to address the housing shortage effectively. The MADE Partnership represents a concrete step towards realising this vision of cooperation and shared responsibility.
Barratt's Commitment to Large-Scale Development
David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, expressed the company's commitment to playing a significant role in delivering the millions of new homes needed in the UK over the next 10-20 years. Thomas highlighted the importance of large developments in achieving this goal, stating, "Through MADE Partnership, we are creating a master developer which can manage the infrastructure and placemaking that is needed to deliver at scale, while consistently achieving the high quality and sustainability standards that Barratt is known for."
This statement reflects Barratt's recognition of the need for a new approach to housing development, one that goes beyond individual projects to encompass larger, more comprehensive schemes. The emphasis on quality and sustainability alongside scale demonstrates a commitment to creating not just houses, but thriving, liveable communities.
The Role of Master Developer
The MADE Partnership website provides insight into the role of a master developer and the partnership's approach to large-scale development. As a master developer, MADE Partnership will be responsible for:
Land Assembly and Planning: This includes assembling sites, facilitating collaboration between stakeholders, managing the planning process, and negotiating agreements with landowners. The partnership will also work on securing local plan allocations and necessary planning consents.
Placemaking: A crucial aspect of the master developer role is creating a strong vision for each development and engaging with the community. This involves masterplanning with a focus on sustainability, resilience, health, beauty, and nature. The partnership will also oversee place branding, marketing, and communications, as well as initiatives to include local jobs, training, and community projects.
Infrastructure Development: The partnership will be responsible for delivering both community infrastructure (such as cultural, recreational, educational, and employment facilities) and primary infrastructure (including utilities, drainage, landscaping, public realm, highways, and integrated transport systems).
Serviced Land Provision: Once the necessary infrastructure is in place, the partnership will create serviced development sites, ready for house builders to construct homes.
The Importance of Scale in Housing Development
The MADE Partnership's focus on larger scale developments aligns with the view that such projects can often be the most effective way to deliver a significant number of new homes. As stated on the partnership's website, "The supply of large numbers of new homes can often be best achieved through planning for larger scale development, such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns."
This approach allows for more comprehensive planning and the creation of cohesive communities with all necessary infrastructure and amenities in place. It also provides opportunities for economies of scale in construction and the implementation of sustainable technologies and practices.
Looking Ahead: The Future of UK Housing Development
The formation of the MADE Partnership represents a significant step towards addressing the UK's housing shortage. By bringing together the expertise and resources of a major house builder (Barratt Developments), the government's housing agency (Homes England), and a major financial institution (Lloyds Banking Group), the partnership is well-positioned to tackle the complex challenges of large-scale housing development.
As the partnership begins its work, it will be crucial to monitor its progress and impact on the UK housing market. Success in delivering high-quality, sustainable communities at scale could provide a model for future collaborations between public and private sectors in addressing housing needs.
For new home buyers and those interested in the housing market, developments arising from this partnership will be worth watching. These large-scale projects may offer opportunities for home ownership in well-planned, sustainable communities. However, as with any new development, potential buyers should remain vigilant and consider conducting thorough snagging inspections to ensure the quality of their new homes meets the high standards promised by the partnership.
The MADE Partnership represents an innovative approach to housing development in the UK, bringing together key players from different sectors to address the housing shortage on a significant scale. As the partnership moves forward with its ambitious plans, it has the potential to make a substantial impact on the UK housing landscape, creating new communities and opportunities for home ownership across the country.
