Providing affordable housing in the Southern Fringe

John Cross

Chief Executive bpha

Southern Fringe Community Forum 18th January 2012

A brief history • Cambridge Challenge competition 2007

[Housing Corporation, English Partnerships and the local authorities]

• Provision of affordable housing across 3 strategic developments in Cambridgeshire:• Southern Fringe [Trumpington Meadows, Clay,

Glebe and Bell School]• NIAB [Northwest Cambridge]• Northstowe

• Cambridgeshire Partnerships Ltd

Cambridgeshire Partnerships Ltd [CPL]• A joint venture company – two regionally

based housing association shareholders:• bpha [majority shareholder] and HCA lead partner• Aldwyck

• Board also includes representatives of local housing associations: Hundred Houses, King Street and Papworth Trust and the City and South Cambridgeshire Councils.

Roles and Responsibilities• bpha – lead developer and Homes and

Communities Agency development partner • Our investment partners:

• Aldwyck, • Hundred Houses • King Street and • Papworth Trust

• Cambridgeshire Partnerships Ltd will provide management services across all the sites

Regional track record

Local track record – Shelford Library

Our track record• Significant HCA development partner (top 20)• Specialism in developing major urban

extensions and new settlements:• Mawsley Village, Northamptonshire• Orchard Park, Cambridge• Loves Farm, St Neots, Cambridgeshire• Wixams, Bedfordshire

• Commitment to building socially and environmentally sustainable communities

Loves Farm

Wixams Bedfordshire

Orchard Park, Cambridge

Our programme• Initially c£120m investment in new homes –

predominantly Southern Fringe• Currently working in partnership with the

developers:• TMLC• Barratts• Countryside• Skanska

• All affordable housing integrated into each site and each phase

Glebe Farm – tenure plans

New homes• Around 1 in 3 family homes• High quality design – CPL design standards• Environmental credentials – code level 4

• Passive technology

• Building for Life Gold• Lifetime Homes standard• Secure by Design• TENURE BLIND

Clay Farm - Skanska

Potential Programme to 2015• Funding agreed and in place for period to 2015

– commitment and capacity extends beyond 2015 as well!

• Potential to provide c850 -1000 homes • new homes

• 29% Social rent [Trumpington Meadows only]• 36% Affordable rent [c60% market rent]• 35% Shared ownership [40% equity sale – 60% rent]• Potential for specialist supported housing including

older persons

Homes for local people• CPL will be working with the two authorities to

determine who get housed.• Local letting plans to meet housing and

community needs• Coherent and consistent service and approach

across all sites through CPL• All rented customers initially on probationary

tenancies

CPL Service Offer• Single coherent service with one point of contact offering

clarity and consistency for residents and stakeholders irrespective of the asset owner

• Local service standards developed with stakeholders• Accessible services – provision of a 24 hour 365 day

reporting and information service• Resident engagement and empowerment – a broad

approach including a role within the governance structure• Co-location – with other neighbourhood service providers;

and maximising the value from face to face contact that is programmed and supported by offsite teams

CPL Service Offer• Support services – ability to offer care and support, on

a cross tenure basis, on a commissioned and/or direct purchase basis

• Community development – a proactive approach; strategic and operational support alongside the work of the two authorities

• Social enterprise – promotion of local business opportunities for local people

• Accountability – to the local authorities as place shapers, to residents of the new schemes and those in surrounding communities, and to other key stakeholders

CPL Service Offer• Offering some services to all residents (subject to

viability). The aim here was to avoid labelling affordable tenants and to act as a provider with relevance to the whole community. We recognise that some owners may welcome the ability to purchase services from a menu offered by a not for profit provider

• Management for others – a service for buy to let owners, or equity investors