Tuesday 17 October 2006
John spearheads campaign for better housing

Bedfordshire's affordable housing needs are set to be heard at the highest level following the appointment of bpha's chief executive to a national campaigning body.

John Cross has been elected chair of the National Housing Federation, which campaigns for better housing and neighbourhoods. The Federation represents 1,400 independent, not-for-profit housing associations which, between them, provide affordable homes for five million people across England.

John, who will continue to serve as chief executive of bpha, will lead the Federation as it campaigns to improve homes and neighbourhoods for housing association tenants, shared ownership residents and other customers.

He will also work to influence key decision-makers and funders by highlighting the sorts of issues facing affordable housing providers and their residents in Bedfordshire, and elsewhere in country.

John said: "The housing market in this area is under immense pressure as the rising population puts an increasing demand on the need for affordable housing. This is a situation mirrored across the country.

"As chair of the Federation, I will be able to raise the profile of local housing needs throughout England and work to influence Government policy when it comes to funding, providing and managing affordable housing.

"I will also ensure that there is a strong focus on local communities. What many people don't realise is that housing associations are about much more than just housing. They play a vital role in improving local neighbourhoods in many other ways by working in partnership with other organisations and by supporting residents to play an active role in their communities and make the most of their opportunities.

"What we need to do for the future is to make sure that the Federation keeps on focusing on customers and ensuring that the interests of our members' residents are at the heart of all decisions. I will also continue to ensure that housing associations are given the support they need to improve homes and neighbourhoods, and that they get the recognition they deserve."

John, 53, has been chief executive of bpha since 1995, where he has overseen the organisation's development as a major provider of affordable housing throughout central, southern and eastern England.

Today, bpha manages 12,000 affordable homes in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire and is a major developer of new affordable accommodation, with new building schemes in the pipeline for Bedford and surrounding areas as part of a £41 million development programme in the region. Through its Keyhomes East arm, bpha is also the Government-appointed HomeBuy agent for Bedfordshire, acting as a one-stop shop for key workers and others seeking low cost home ownership.

Locally, John chairs the Bedford Partnership Board which brings together the private, public and voluntary sectors to tackle issues affecting the town. He is also a member of Renaissance Bedford, a partnership of public and private sector organisations that is helping to improve neighbourhoods in the Bedford area and the Bedfordshire Countywide Partnership overseeing the delivery of the county's local area agreement.