Genesis Housing host breakfast seminar

Genesis Housing Group held a breakfast seminar at the beginning of the week where leading players in the sector debated how best to tackle the complex issue of mixed-tenure management.

The issue of managing mixed-use schemes emerged from the last breakfast meeting held by Genesis in January as something that is fast moving up the agenda in the housing sector. With the new regulatory body being established and the Housing and Regeneration Bill being progressed through Parliament, issues such as how these schemes can be managed in a way that ensures high quality and choice, whilst also promoting flexibility and mobility for our customers, were explored at the meeting held on Monday at One Birdcage Walk, Westminster.

Anu Vedi, group chief executive of Genesis, opened the debate by acknowledging the complexities around mixed-tenure management, such as the impact decisions might have on values of outright sale, how the quality of design should be of paramount importance, and the trade-off between keeping service costs down while meeting the challenges of long-term sustainability.

Various viewpoints were put forward by speakers, Ian Fletcher, director of Commercial and Residential Policy at the British Property Federation, David Hewitt, executive secretary at the Association of Residential Managing Agents, and Roy Evans, director of Housing at Wandsworth Council.

Developers, the Housing Corporation, registered social landlords (RSLs) and local authorities were among those represented in the round-table discussion that followed.

All agreed on the fundamental importance of sustainable, integrated management solutions, while David Hewitt noted "the need for this to take place on a level playing field with the correct interface between all involved". The point that we need to think about tenants from the start was also made.

This session was the second in a series of breakfast seminars that Genesis is running in 2008. The aim is for small groups of major players to get together to have frank and full debates about key issues of the day.

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations.