Delivering new housing in the current economic environment requires a new model of cooperation and risk sharing between the private and public sectors, according to delegates of a recent seminar about Local Authority housing strategy. Thirty-five leading Local Authority professionals responsible for housing strategy, planning and in house legal departments, met to discuss how to ensure housing delivery continues at a time when private sector developers are renegotiating planning agreements to lower the financial cost of key aspects of delivery, reducing affordable housing commitments and postponing new planning applications altogether.

The seminar, hosted by law firm Davies Arnold Cooper, included a master class on dealing with section 106 re negotiations and creating viable development; clarification of the local housing company model and why it is now looking more attractive to both private and public sector, followed by a presentation on the Government's sustainability agenda and the role local authorities have to play in delivering it.

"The current impasse in housing strategy requires Local Authorities to adapt their role to the new economic reality," said Helen Meyler, partner at Davies Arnold Cooper. "We work with Local Authorities as well as private developers and it was very encouraging to see that local housing officers are prepared to approach the dialogue about the economic realities of housing delivery with an open mind and with enthusiasm for exploring new models of working in partnership with the private sector. What I heard today gives me great hope that these new models will soon emerge to tackle the practical challenge of re-invigorating housebuilding in the UK."

Also discussed was how to manage the risks associated with EU Procurement Regulations when local authorities are procuring development.

Davies Arnold Cooper is a leading real estate law firm with particular expertise in regeneration and residential development, acting for the local authorities and the majority of the major housebuilders in the UK. Davies Arnold Cooper has offered to repeat their seminar (or relevant presentations) in house to local authorities as part of its commitment to facilitate housing delivery.

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About Davies Arnold Cooper LLP

Davies Arnold Cooper is a commercial law firm that specialises in real estate and dispute resolution. Established more than 80 years ago, the firm has offices in the UK, Spain and Mexico.

Best known for its work in the insurance and real estate sectors, Davies Arnold Cooper also tops the independent league tables for its work in product liability and is particularly highly rated in commercial litigation, employment and construction.

Davies Arnold Cooper has over 200 lawyers of whom over 75 are partners. Davies Arnold Cooper employs 380 people in total.

Further information

For more information contact Rob Dwyer at 020 7293 4130 or rdwyer@dac.co.uk