Citizen-led Housing Reform: Rethinking Housing Future

Kevin Hollinrake has announced a transformative plan centred on citizen-led housing reform to overhaul Britain’s current housing policy. Hollinrake is positioning this as a break from traditional top-down policymaking. He champions a grassroots approach, prioritising citizens’ lived experiences over Whitehall assumptions.

The new initiative puts working families at the centre of housing policy. Moreover, it seeks to rebuild trust through results.

Ground-Up Approach to Replace “Whitehall Assumptions”

The initiative is not just symbolic; it proposes to radically restructure how housing policy is shaped in the UK. Hollinrake plans to incorporate insights from various stakeholders, including community members and experts. This will help ‘rewire and reboot’ the nation’s housing strategy.

This comes as part of a broader ambition to address the persistent failures in meeting the country’s housing needs. The Conservative Party claims to have built 2.5 million homes since 2010, including one million last session. However, critics highlight the lack of truly affordable housing, especially for social rent.

The Decline of Social Housing: Citizen-led housing reform

Despite the overall volume of new housing, government statistics show a dramatic reduction in the delivery of homes for social rent. The government has built just over 161,000 such homes since 2010, a sharp contrast to the 362,000 completed between 1997 and 2010 under previous administrations.

Much of the modest output since 2010 occurred in the early years and is attributed to projects initiated by the preceding Labour government. Since 2015, England has averaged fewer than 7,000 new socially rented homes annually. In contrast, the Labour era delivered over 27,000 each year.

These figures suggest a clear policy shift, as significant portions of affordable housing grants have gone toward shared ownership schemes or homes with higher “affordable” rents – both of which often remain out of reach for those most in need.

An Answer to the Housing Crisis?

Hollinrake has cited the erosion of the social housing stock as a primary factor driving the housing crisis. As more people face housing insecurity, the government has had to focus recent top-up grants on social rented homes. Consequently, these funds are directed within the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).

This renewed focus culminated in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ March 2025 announcement of a £2 billion boost to the AHP, projected to deliver up to 18,000 new affordable homes. The latest pledge builds on previous injections totalling £850 million over the past five months. These efforts precede a broader Spending Review in June, which is expected to unveil a new long-term housing strategy and funding mechanism.

Projections indicate the reforms could facilitate the construction of 1.3 million homes during the current parliamentary term – potentially marking the highest level of house building in four decades.

Sector Engagement and Strategic Collaboration

In tandem with these funding developments, Hollinrake recently convened a forum with housing associations to explore avenues for expanding low-cost housing across the UK. Key themes included reducing bureaucratic delays, streamlining planning permissions, and enhancing the financial sustainability of affordable developments.

Participants raised concerns about the decline in delivery under the new Labour-led government. Additionally, they questioned future budget allocations. Hollinrake has stressed the importance of continuity, clarity, and genuine collaboration between central government, local authorities, and housing providers.

Addressing Broader Social and Political Challenges

Hollinrake’s housing policy revamp also intersects with wider issues affecting British society. These include regional inequalities, strained public services, and diminishing public trust in political institutions. He has been particularly critical of local government mismanagement – singling out Labour-run Birmingham as an example, where ongoing service disruptions such as a bin strike reflect deeper structural failings.

He argues that housing policy must also restore community cohesion. Additionally, it should address immigration impacts and strengthen local finances.

Rebuilding Trust Through Action: Citizen-led housing reform

“People are tired of politicians making promises and then delivering little,” Hollinrake has said. “This policy reboot is about doing things differently – listening first, then acting with purpose. My door is open, and I want to turn your ideas into policy that works on the ground.”

His comments reflect a growing appetite for participatory politics, where the public not only consults but actively participates in the policymaking process. This citizen-led ethos, Hollinrake insists, is not only more democratic but also more likely to produce practical solutions to complex challenges.

Opposition to Centralised Planning Reforms

Hollinrake has also raised concerns about the government’s direction on planning policy. In a recent conversation with Inside Housing, he criticised the move to reduce local councillors’ powers under the proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill. He called it a ‘fundamental mistake’ and criticised the removal of local oversight from planning decisions. Consequently, he warned it risks undermining accountability and alienating already wary communities.

A Step Towards Reimagining the Housing Landscape: Citizen-led Housing Reform

As the UK grapples with a longstanding housing crisis, Kevin Hollinrake’s approach may represent a shift in tone and methodology rather than just messaging. It remains unclear if this approach will lead to lasting change. However, its focus on community insight signals a fresh start.