News

Broadland has proudly welcomed its first tenants to Canary Quay, Norwich.

Over the coming weeks, 60 one- and two-bedroom apartments at Canary Quay will be handed over.  These new homes, which are for social rent, are the first phase in our ambitious development that will eventually create 323 new homes.

The new homes will be a mix of social and intermediate rent and open market properties.  All 60 new homes in Phase 1 are social rent.

Broadland Housing chief executive Michael Newey commented:

It is very pleasing to be handing over the first new homes on a site which was previously neglected and derelict, and which we are transforming into a vibrant new living quarter for Norwich, providing high-quality homes near the city centre for people who need them the most, at rents they can afford.

This is an ambitious scheme on a large scale which has taken considerable time to bring to fruition; when we see the delight on our tenants’ faces when they receive their keys, it makes all that hard work worthwhile.

The new homes are being built by RG Carter; the architects are Ingleton Wood and the consulting engineers Rossi Long.

Case study: Andrew Parfitt

One of the first tenants to receive their keys at Canary Quay was Andrew Parfitt (pictured above) – whose new home overlooks two of his former workplaces. 

Retired railwayman Andrew worked at the rail depot right next to the new development. Before that he worked at the Colman’s works, just across the river, which he can now see from the balcony of his 6th-floor one-bedroom apartment.

Andrew has lived in Norwich since his early 20s. Previously he was living in rented accommodation which was plagued by anti-social behaviour. He is delighted with his new home.

When I first saw the flat I was amazed – it’s so nice. My dad was a builder, so I can appreciate the quality of the finish. It’s done to a great standard.  The moment I walked in, I was sold!

It’s so nice to be coming back to where I spent most of my working life, it’s a part of the city I love.  This is now my ‘forever home’.  I’m confident is it going to be a real community.

Case study: Brandon Cheesman

20 year-old Brandon Cheesman has spent the past 18 months in shared accommodation at the YMCA. His one-bedroom 5th-floor apartment at Canary Quay is his first home.

Brandon grew up in Norwich and has been working in tree surgery with his granddad. He is hoping to take his certificates and become a tree surgeon himself.

It has got everything.  Being in the city I can walk everywhere, or get the bus easily. Everything like shops are close by.  And I really love the football, which is next door.

My flat is really good quality. When my mum saw it, she was so excited she joked that she wanted to move out of her own house and live here!

A group of Broadland employees have raised £1,300 in a sponsored bike ride through the Norfolk countryside. The employees followed a 30-mile circular route, stopping at Broadland’s stores depot at Colton for refreshments. Many were new or returning to cycling, which makes the achievement all the more impressive!

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The funds raised will be donated to Norwich MIND, which staff voted as their charity of the year for 2019. Commenting on Twitter, Norwich MIND said:

A huge well done, and thank you so much @BroadlandHsg
Bike Riders for choosing to fundraise for our charity!

Michael Newey, Group Chief Executive, told our Annual General Meeting in September that Broadland needs to continue “stretching itself” if we are to help tackle the UK’s “appalling” homelessness problem.

Broadland completed 67 new homes in the year to March 2019, and another 259 are under construction. Michael said:

Far too many people don’t have homes in this country.  According to Shelter there are 268,000 homeless people in England, and that includes a terrifying number of children. We are in an appalling situation. At the end of the day the solution to homelessness is bricks and mortar, and that’s why we have to stretch ourselves to build more.

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Broadland’s Annual Review shows outlines plans to deliver 291 new homes in the current financial year, with a further 172 in 2020-21, and 147 in 2021-22.  We allocated 476 homes in 2018-19, of which 75 were let to homeless people, and further 131 to older people.

As part of Broadland’s pledge to tackle homelessness, we have signed up to the national Homes for Cathy initiative. We have made 9 clear commitments, including introducing flexibility into the way we allocate homes, and meeting the needs of vulnerable tenant groups.

Michael also told the meeting about the importance of the work of our Tenancy Support team, which helps tenants who are at risk of losing their homes. He said:

The team has supported nearly 400 tenants over the last year.  As a result of their work with those tenants, they have managed to bring in for those families a further £322,000 worth of benefits that they weren’t getting beforehand, either by challenging incorrect DWP decisions or securing benefits that tenants were entitled to.

Looking to the future, Michael outlined our new corporate strategy, 2019-23. Going forward, we have strengthened our commitments on tackling homelessness, renewed our focus on involving tenants in shaping the future of our organisation.