Regional Mayor could help secure social housing investment

A Strategic Mayor could help secure investment in social housing across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. 

Areas that will receive funding in the first wave of the £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme were announced last week. 

So far, £10 billion has been allocated - with £2 billion of that is going to Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) areas. 
‍
As part of the announcement, Government has set out its long-term direction for the programme, with more funding expected to flow directly to Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities (EMSAs) outside London as it progresses.  

ESMAs - such as the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) - are top tier devolved areas which can ask Government for additional powers and responsibilities.

Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland does not currently have an MSA at all.

In a Leicester Mercury article published this week, a Devolution Leicester spokesperson said: “The availability of housing is always important to economic growth - employers need available housing, preferably nearby, to ensure labour market availability as businesses seek to thrive and grow.

“Our research shows that it remains difficult for businesses to recruit, despite the regional unemployment level being greater than the national average.

“Getting to and from places of work is part of that conundrum.

“The announced housing measures are another indication of how focused the government is on funding growth in regions with mayoral authorities.

“This again highlights the differences that exist and will continue to develop between areas with an elected mayor and those without, including Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.”

East Midlands Chamber board member Kevin Harris was also quoted. 

“Invariably, MSAs across the country are front of the queue when it comes to investment, as well as having the power to make their own decisions at local level, whether on funding or the projects most important to their projects, so it’s essential Leicester and Leicestershire are among areas that are fully devolved." he said.

“The recent backing that’s now been given from Leicester and Leicestershire’s leaders for the city and county to become a mayoral authority is a superb step forward and echoes what East Midlands Chamber has been calling for over a long period of time.

“I very much hope government now seizes this momentum and action is moved to a mayoral authority at pace, so the growth Leicester and Leicestershire need is unlocked.”