Regional spotlight: London

Berwyn Kinsey will take over as head of the London Housing Federation on 18 October.

Since 2001, Berwyn has been a regulation manager at the Housing Corporation, responsible for large housing associations including London and Quadrant, Network, Genesis and Notting Hill Housing Group. Last year, he was included in Housing Today’s list of the sector’s 35 high-fliers under the age of 35. Previously, he was head of policy at Circle 33 Housing Group.

Berwyn is looking forward to joining the London team and meeting members. “I’m delighted to be joining the National Housing Federation at such an exciting and challenging time,” he said. “Housing is, for the first time in a generation, at the top of the political agenda. The federation, its members and partners are uniquely placed to make a real difference to thousands of lives today and in the future.”

Higher density housing for families

In October, the London federation will launch Higher density housing for families, a follow-up to Capital Gains: making high density housing work in London.

The people shaping London’s development, including Mayor Ken Livingstone and ex-CABE head Jon Rouse, are united in calling for new homes to be built at higher densities. Associations have taken the initiative and produced Higher density housing to determine how this should work in practice. The guide covers features including access, storage, plus shared and private open space. The standards will be valued so that their true capital costs can be better understood.

The guide, produced by consultant Helen Cope and David Levitt of Levitt Bernstein Architects, was considered in detail by about 70 managers, developers and finance experts from a range of developing associations at a consultation event in June.

The recent Spending Review put the emphasis firmly on efficiency, and there is much debate about what this means for housing. The federation believes efficiency should mean investment in neighbourhoods that work, and hopes the guide’s recommendations will be recognised both by the Greater London Authority’s London Plan and the Housing Corporation.

• Higher density housing for families with children will be launched on 14 October. For more information, contact Laura Hare, LHF’s joint acting head, on 020 7067 1040 or laurah@housing.org.uk

New showcase to help homeless

Today’s homeless, tomorrow’s key worker is a new LHF publication showcasing training and support services provided by London associations, to be published this Autumn. It includes a foreword by BBC Today presenter John Humphrys and case studies from Broadway, Network East Foyers, Peter Bedford and St Mungo’s.

• For more information, please contact Jo Pearce, communications officer on 020 7067 1045 14 September Finance Group Open Meeting: VAT and Tax Issues, 4.00-6.30pm Sponsored by KPMG

• 23 September LHF Drinks Reception at federation Annual Conference, 6.00-8.00pm Bank Bar, Birmingham
• 6 October Finance Conference (full day): The Efficiency Agenda: Making it all add up, British Library Conference Centre
• 11 October Development Group AGM and Open Meeting, 3.00-5.30pm: Public grants for private developers (sponsored by Diamond Build) Hamilton House, London
• 14 October LHF AGM, launch of Higher density housing for families, 9.00-10.30am Commonwealth Club, London
• 20 October London Housing Federation Communications Network: Websites – what works? 1.00-5.30pm , Lion Court Conference Centre
• 12 November London Housing Strategy Conference, 9.00am-2.00pm Savoy Place, London
• 23 November  Development Conference: A vision for a growing city – building a better future (full day) Business Design Centre, Islington, London
• For more information about LHF events, please contact Stephanie McNair on 020 7067 1042 or stephaniem@housing.org.uk