12 September 2025
Summary: Speaking at the Housing Community Summit conference, MTVH CEO Mel Barrett called for housing to be designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) to deliver the homes we urgently need.
Speaking on the main stage at the National Housing Federation and Chartered Institute of Housing’s Housing Community Summit, Mel Barrett, Chief Executive of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH), called for bold measures that would ensure longevity in the housing market.
Speaking alongside Jonathan Walters form the Regulator of Social Housing, Jessica Tomlinson from Lloyds Banking Group, and Nick Walkley from Avian Young as part of a panel discussion hosted by the BBC broadcaster Kirsty Wark, Mel highlighted MTVH’s regeneration project at Clapham Junction as a prime example of how life chances can be improved through a long-term vision and collaborative partnership working, noting that the project worked because it enjoyed support from local residents. The Clapham Park regeneration is something the sector should learn from, Mel said.
Mel said that the housing crisis is an emergency, and that radical solutions are needed to tackle this. The key to this, he argued, will be the designation of new affordable housing as Critical National Infrastructure to give the market confidence in investing in affordable housing. He pointed to the government’s 2024 decision to classify data centres as CNI, which led to a large uptick in funding. He suggested that housing, with its stable cash flows and importance to the functioning of society, could be even more attractive to investors if designated as CNI.
He also called for the expanded and flexible use of government guarantees, which are a well-developed but under-used form of funding. Tailored guarantees could reduce costs and increase capacity without adding to the national debt, thanks to their classification as contingent liabilities.
Below: Mel speaks to Kirsty Wark
Below – Mel shows delegates a slide about the Clapham Park regeneration
Below – Mel explains the benefits of Clapham Park regeneration
