The role of HAs in CLH projects Anna James

The role of housing

associations in successful

community led housing projects

Anna James

Project Manager (Empty Homes) Plus Dane Group

About Plus Dane Group

• One of the largest developing RPs in the North West

• We own & manage over 18,000 homes across Merseyside & Cheshire

• We are delivering 2,000 new homes by 2017

• We have a £150m development programme

• Heritage in co-operative movement in South Liverpool

What we’ll talk about today

Empowering local communities……

• Case studies- How Plus Dane have responded

• Types of partnership

• Lessons learned

The bigger picture

• HMR legacy

• Reduced funding environment

• Challenges & opportunities

• Not the driving force but the supporter/facilitator

Granby 4 Streets

• Focus of sustained regeneration activity since 1970s

• Deep-rooted problems of housing market decline and poor structural conditions

• 93.6% of the Princes Park ward in most 5% deprived nationally

• £50m funding for the area- Clusters of Empty Homes, Plus Dane, LCC, HCA

• Granby CLT success in community asset transfer

• Homes for £1 pilot

The Vision

Committed Communities

Sensitive Refurbishment

Welsh Streets

• Plus Dane, LCC and local community working together for over 10 years

• Identified need to create more housing choice

• Our proposals combine demolition, refurbishment and new build – Public Enquiry result.

• Phase A: 189 homes (157 new build and 32 refurbs)

• Home-steading & public realm

• What next?

Welsh Streets

Kirkby- lets work together..!

A local community, an established co-operative

71 homes to be cleared

Kirkby

• 71 new homes, underpinning £200m regeneration of Kirkby town centre

• Public private partnership: KMBC, Plus Dane, Tesco, Cherryfield Co-op, local residents

• Existing homes: 52 Plus Dane & 19 Co-op

• Robust community engagement & sensitive management of issues

• Responding to individual housing need and aspiration

• Site cleared: Tesco pull out – What next?

Kirkby

South Cheshire Borders CLT

• PDG have funded a dedicated CLT officer

• Job to provide technical support with feasibilities and business planning

• We support the officer through training, monitor delivery and promote the concept to communities

• Targets agreed to ensure CLT post is self sustaining within 2/3years

Genuine partnership

What do Housing Associations bring?.....

• We bring capacity and resources across development, finance, funding and relationships with influential stakeholders

• We gain community buy-in, genuine engagement, improved relationships and understanding of local priorities

Genuine partnership

Communities are the real heart and drivers for change…

• Communities bring expertise, passion, creativity and real understanding of place and priorities

• Communities gain capacity, resources and high-profile support to make things happen

Lessons learned

• Need for buy-in across all stakeholders

• Need to build trust between stakeholders – shared vision

• Partners enable each other – shared resources

• Don’t ignore the power of social media

• Communicate sensitively and robustly

Thank you