This toolkit is intended as a guide for NHS Trusts, Foundation Trusts and other owners of NHS estate that have identified surplus land and are considering disposing of this land for residential development.
The toolkit provides practical tips and signposts to support the implementation of the Homes for NHS Staff Policy published by NHS Improvement (NHSI) in June 2019.
The policy aims to improve access to affordable housing for staff employed within the NHS by securing an offer of first refusal on affordable homes developed on land owned or being disposed by NHS estate owners.
This guide aims to support estate owners in understanding the potential benefits of implementing this policy and ensuring that the opportunity presented by this policy is properly reflected in their business cases for strategic estates decisions. It also identifies some of the practical challenges that might be faced by estate owners trying to implement the policy and some tips for overcoming them, including how and when to procure specialist professional advice.
The commitment was further underlined as part of the government response to the Naylor review published in January 2018, which committed to providing support to NHS land owners to implement this policy.
Under the policy:
- NHS estate owners are responsible for implementing the policy, working with local planning authorities (LPAs), developers and other partners in the area.
- The number of affordable homes should be determined by existing local affordable housing requirements, which NHS providers are already expected to deliver on their land.
Guidance was published by NHS England and NHSI in June 2019.
The One Public Estate programme is an established national programme delivered in partnership by the LGA and the Office of Government Property (OGP) within the Cabinet Office. One Public Estate began in 2013 with just twelve areas, but today we are working with more than 300 councils on projects transforming local communities and public services right across the country. Find out more