More affordable homes pledge

We will be resourceful and innovative to deliver an increased programme of genuinely affordable quality homes.

Our priorities for this year:

  1. Secure at least 25 homes per year through traditional land and build procurement.
  2. Complete a feasibility assessment of our sites for redevelopment, additional homes or remodelling through a partnership with Frankham Projects Ltd.

Our focus this year has been planning for the future and on our investment in planned major repairs and maintenance while the development market has been challenging.

As a housing association, ensuring that we are spending money responsibly is important, and with the rising building costs and high expectations of land vendors, many sites proposed were not viable or able to cover their own expenses. We have been able take proactive steps towards re-developing some of our existing sites, which will help increase the number of affordable homes in our boroughs.

New opportunities

We have been working closely with Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association since April 2023 to look for new developments. We now have a programme to build 103 more homes over the next two years with the support of the GLA’s Affordable Homes Funding Programme 2021-26.

We did have one financially viable opportunity approved by Board, however this fell through, and we continue to look for more opportunities for new developments.

Redevelopments

Redeveloping or building on existing land helps us to produce more affordable housing at a lower cost. Our asset database is now current and accurate, enabling us to identify sites to review.

This year we identified three schemes for redevelopment as part of our development programme and have begun consultation with stakeholders and residents to ensure they are involved in the process. We have entered into a development planning performance agreement with the local authority to help make the redevelopment process quicker and more efficient.

Working together

We are involved in an exciting new joint venture with Heads2gether and St Luke’s Church to develop approximately 15 affordable new homes, a private rent home and a community hall.

This will be developed in conjunction with those who will be living there, letting them have a say in the design, layout and specification. We are at the pre-application for planning stage and hope to start on site by the end of 2025.