Can The Next Round Of Housing PFI Help Deliver The HCA Agenda?

Housing PFI is into Round 6. Much to the delight of the new

Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) there have been twenty four

expressions of interest from local authorities, seeking £4

billion worth of credits which is double the £1.9 billion

available. This is significantly more interest than shown by local

authorities in previous rounds. This is good news for the HCA and

for communities as PFI is still an important procurement route for

delivering affordable housing. The emphasis in Round 6

will be on procuring neighbourhood transformational schemes. PFI

schemes are, according to the HCA about communities not just

housing. Although these schemes will be based around the need for

additional affordable housing a number will involve extra care

schemes which to date have been particularly successful.

The HCA will be considering all twenty four schemes by the end

of February 2009 with a recommendation to the Communities and Local

Government Department at the end of March or early April. The

public announcement as to which local authorities have been

successful will be made at the end of April or the beginning of

May.

It is worth recapping on what happened in Rounds 1 to 5 of

Housing PFI schemes. There were seven Round 1 PFI Pathfinder

schemes...