Thought leader interview with Louise Drew

What will be the biggest issue you hope to hear more on at Housing 2022?

Retrofitting. 80% of all homes expected to be present in 2050 have already been built – how do we retrofit these for net zero? How will this be funded? Do the government grants go far enough?

What will you be speaking about in your session?

Tackling the under-provision of later living schemes. By 2041, it’s predicted that 25% of the UK population will be over 65. Yet there is a disconnect between the amount of people at retirement age in the UK, versus the number of purpose-built later living homes in operation. How do we address the barriers to supply and investment in the later living market to meet the growing demand? How can we guarantee a good service offering and what are the long-term opportunities in later living for the wider housing market? We will discuss: education, planning, sustainability and funding.

Tell us a question for the Secretary of State

Why, when age is not a political issue, do successive governments focus their housing strategy around young people and first time buyers? Have they not considered driving demand for high quality schemes for older people freeing up under-occupied family homes and also helping the burden on the NHS by keeping people out of hospital for longer?

What are you most looking forward to?

Seeing people who we have only seen on screen for so many years face to face, leading to healthy discussions on topical issues such as net zero carbon, retrofitting and the challenges in housing supply.

Name us the housing speaker of your dreams and why?

Octavia Hill. Poverty disproportionately affects women and Octavia was a woman instrumental in fighting for better housing rights and the birth of social housing – she got stuff done! It would be so good to hear her thoughts on the housing crisis today and her take on a plan of action.

Why is it vital the whole sector has a place to meet each year?

It intensifies the discussions, placing a wider emphasis on the complexities of the housing crisis and the delivery of housing supply, bringing the diverse challenges into one auditorium to escalate the finding of solutions because those holding the answers are all in attendance.

Book for your ticket for Housing 2022 now.