Broadland Housing Association

Homes, community & support since 1963

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    7 new homes handed over to tackle homelessness in Norwich

    7 new homes handed over to tackle homelessness in Norwich

    Broadland Housing and Norwich City Council have built 7 new homes for people formerly sleeping rough on the streets.

    The 7 x 1-bedroom homes on Ketts Hill in Norwich were built with funding from the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme. This will also pay for support workers to help the residents settle into their new homes and rebuild their lives.

    At the handover ceremony, Councillor Gail Harris, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for social housing, joined Michael Newey, Chief Executive, and representatives from our design and construction partners.

    Joint initiative

    Broadland has built the homes on land provided by Norwich City Council, which provided capital alongside grant funding from Homes England.

    The new homes were built with a timber-frame design for speed of construction and to ensure low embodied carbon.  Each property has its own small front garden. 

    Councillor Harris said:

    The City Council is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness, and through our successful collaborative work with partners like Broadland Housing Association, we are finding new and innovative ways to offer targeted support to those who need it.

    I’m thrilled to see these new homes handed over, which will provide the accommodation and support needed to help former rough sleepers live independent, happy lives. It is fantastic that each home has its own outdoor space, and I can’t wait to hear how the new residents settle in.

    Gail Harris, cabinet member for social housing, Norwich City Council

    Michael Newey added:

    This site will provide high-quality, affordable housing for those in desperate need of accommodation and support – another development which will transform lives.

    This project builds on the continual partnership working between the City Council and Broadland Housing Association in tackling some of the most difficult sites and developments to bring much-needed affordable accommodation to the city.

    These homes will once again be built to the high-quality standards we have for all our homes.  These new homes, in the heart of Norwich on a disused piece of land, will ensure that more people leave the streets and can have a home to call their own.

    Michael Newey, Chief Executive, Broadland Housing Association

    Vital community scheme

    Norwich-based property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood provided architectural and utility design services for the new homes. The builders were H Smith & Sons of Honingham, and the timber frame was manufactured in Norfolk by Timber Frame Management.

    Chris Stammers, Director and Architect at Ingleton Wood, said:

    Ketts Hill provides immediate support for those in desperate housing need across Norwich and we are proud to have supported this vital community scheme.

    Featuring a contemporary take on a traditional terrace, Ketts Hill provides high-quality living accommodation and essential facilities within an attractive setting. The project has been an exemplar of positive multi-agency collaboration.

    Homelessness strategy day 2023 – Homes for Cathy

    Last week Broadland Housing attended a national Homes for Cathy strategy day on tackling homelessness.

    Around 30 other Homes for Cathy members and housing sector partners took part in the event, hosted by Hightown Housing Association.

    Michael Newey at Homes for Cathy strategy meeting 2023 (3rd from left)
    Broadland Housing Chief Executive Michael Newey (3rd from left)

    Our Chief Executive Michael Newey shared Broadland’s journey in working towards the 9 Homes for Cathy commitments.

    Homelessness prevention is not all about care and  supported housing. It should permeate into every area of a housing association’s policy and operations.

    Michael Newey, Chief Executive

    Also among the speakers on the day, Holly Dagnall of Nottingham Community Housing Association described her organisation’s progress to meet the Homes for Cathy commitments.

    Chris Hancock from Crisis explained why homelessness is a housing problem and not about ‘fixing the individual’. He reported that B&B usage has tripled in the last 10 years. Also, that around 300,000 UK households could be forced into homelessness in 2023, driven by the cost of living and impacts of the pandemic.

    Key themes and insights

    During the strategy meeting, members and partners discussed :
    – Housing associations ARE homelessness organisations – if not us, who?
    – Board and executive team buy-in for adopting the Homes for Cathy commitments is crucial; an organisation’s work around homelessness should filter down from a strategic level.
    – Embedding the commitments is a continuous process, particularly with staff changes – it’s about a culture shift within your organisation.
    – Operational outcomes in housing are equally as important as homelessness services (although they are vital too!).
    – Data is king – knowing and sharing your data around homelessness metrics/KPIs such as evictions, abandonments and lettings to homeless households helps track the progress your organisation is making and motivates and empowers colleagues to do more.
    – Sharing stories is key – every organisation approaches the commitments in their own way and the good practice shared through the Homes for Cathy network is invaluable.


    No Homelessness in Norfolk – winter campaign

    As a member of the Norfolk Strategic Housing Partnership, we support No Homelessness in Norfolk, a partnership of people working together to prevent homelessness across the county.

    The latest No Homelessness in Norfolk social media campaign is encouraging people to contact local advice agencies and/or their local council as soon as they are worried about housing costs this winter.

    Typically there is an increase in homelessness in January and February. This year, with the cost of living crisis, this situation is likely to be more acute this winter than in previous years.

    At Broadland we are encouraging our tenants to get in touch asap if they are worried about paying their rent and signposting people to our cost of living help page.

    Norfolk Strategic Housing Partnership

    The Norfolk Strategic Housing Partnership was formed in autumn 2020, bringing
    partners together at a strategic level with a mandate for change. The members include:

    • Norwich City Council
    • Breckland Council
    • South Norfolk District Council
    • North Norfolk District Council
    • Great Yarmouth District Council
    • Broadland District Council
    • Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk
    • Norfolk County Council
    • Ministry of Justice Department
    • Norfolk Police
    • Police & Crime Commissioners Office
    • Norfolk & Waveney CCG
    • Norfolk County Council Public Health
    • Clarion Housing Group
    • Department of Work and Pensions
    • HM Prison and Probation Service
    • Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
    • Voluntary Sector representative
    • Flagship Group
    • Saffron Housing Trust
    • Broadland Housing Association


    Derelict Norwich site transformed into homes for social rent

    New social rent homes at Mile Cross Norwich

    Derelict Norwich site transformed into homes for social rent

    We have partnered with Norwich City Council to build 5 eco-friendly new homes on a formerly derelict site in Mile Cross, Norwich. 

    New social rent homes at Mile Cross Norwich
    New social rent homes at Mile Cross Norwich, built by Broadland Housing Association for Norwich City Council
    Bungalow for social rent built by Broadland Housing Association for Norwich City Council, Mile Cross, Norwich
    Michael Newey (Broadland Housing Association, Gail Harris (Norwich City Council) and Andrew Savage (Broadland Housing Association) outside the new social rent homes at Mile Cross Norwich

    Norwich City Council bought the site of the former King’s Arms public house in 2020 to build social housing, using a compulsory purchase order. The site had been left to stand derelict for years by its previous owner.   

    1 x 2-bedroom bungalow, 1 x 5-bedroom house and 3 x 4-bedroom houses have been built on the land. The homes have been let by Norwich City Council through its housing register, providing the types of homes most needed by applicants. Each of the families has been able to move away from homes that were no longer suitable for them, making these properties available for new tenants.  

    Eco-design reduces energy costs

    The homes are designed to save tenants money on heating and hot water. They have extra insulation and low-carbon features, including air source heat pumps, triple glazing and solar panels. Each property also has an electric vehicle charging point. They have been thoughtfully designed to complement the established residential area.  

    To make access to the development possible, the city council also acquired the house next door to the site. This was a former council home sold under the government’s Right to Buy scheme. It is now back in the city’s social housing stock.  

    Creative solution to meet demand for affordable housing

    Councillor Gail Harris, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for social housing (pictured above, second right), visited the site this week to welcome the 5 new households:  

    Turning this deserted plot into much-needed social homes is a fantastic outcome for the city.  

    It has been wonderful to meet some of the new residents already getting settled just in time for Christmas.  

    Purchasing the King’s Arms site to benefit the community is an example of how we are being creative to address the demand for affordable housing in the city.

    Councillor Gail Harris, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for social housing

    Mark, who has moved into the bungalow on the site, said:

    It’s a lovely home, it couldn’t be better. We have downsized from a 3-bedroom house in Norwich and no longer need to worry about the stairs. 

    Sam, another new resident who has moved from within Mile Cross, said:

    We are really pleased to have moved in before Christmas and have already met lots of neighbours.  

    This new home gives our family more space, and staying in the area has meant we haven’t had to change anything else.

    Broadland Housing managed the project for the council and the homes were built by Smith of Honingham.  

    We are delighted to work in partnership with Norwich City Council once again, this time as their Development Agent. Norwich City have taken a site which has been disused for many years and turned it into beautiful new homes in our city. We continue to be proud of our partnership with the council. It shows just what can be done with thoughtful insight and imagination.

    Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director, Broadland Housing Association (pictured above, right)

    Our partnership with Norwich City Council, has been fruitful over the years, with many new homes provided for the people of Norwich. As homeless numbers continue to raise, and many families in our city struggling to find good quality, well-maintained properties, these new homes are needed now more than ever.

    Michael Newey, Chief Executive, Broadland Housing Association (pictured above, left)

    Housing conference focuses on the importance of listening to tenants

    Housing conference focuses on the importance of listening to tenants

    The first Independent East conference was held near Norwich in November 2022. More than 100 tenants, board members and staff attended from five housing associations based in Norfolk and Suffolk. The conference focused on what lies in store for social housing in 2023 and the important role of tenants.

    Independent East Conference November 2022, delegates discussing in group around a table
    Independent East Conference November 2022,3 delegates chatting at table
    Independent East Conference November 2022, speaker Kate Dodsworth from Regulator of Social Housing
    Independent East Conference, November 2022

    There were keynote speeches from housing experts Hilary Burkitt, Director of Housing at IFF Research; Kathryn Eyre, Quality, Engagement & Development Director of the Housing Ombudsman; and Kate Dodsworth, Director of Consumer Regulation for the Regulator of Social Housing. The programme also included table discussions and opportunities for questions.

    Creative collaboration

    In their discussions, the participants focused on creative collaboration as a key solution to the challenges faced by housing associations. They discussed how these challenges might be alleviated by really listening to tenants and putting them at the heart of decisions in the difficult year(s) ahead.

    I found the keynote speeches informative, positive and thought-provoking. The whole conference was uplifting and well attended by tenants. It shows a growing interest in how attitudes to social housing and engaging with our landlords are changing.

    Jane, a Broadland tenant who participated

    It’s important for the sector to come together and think deeply about the challenges they are facing at the moment in such unprecedented times. The takeaway from today is a real sense that everyone is up for the challenge that we’re facing. Despite the great difficulties for housing associations, for tenants, everyone is up for thinking about how they are going to address these challenges and to make sure we are doing our very best for all of our tenants.

    Hilary Burkitt, Director of Housing IFF Research

    The event was organised by Independent East, an informal alliance of five community‐focused housing associations in the East of England – Broadland Housing, Freebridge Community Housing, Havebury Housing Partnership, Saffron Housing Trust, and Orwell Housing Association.

    Independent East will continue to work collaboratively together and with tenants to address common issues, sharing ideas and best practice to continually improve services and better the lives of their customers.

    CEOs of Independent East housing associations, November 2022
    The CEOs of the five Independent East housing associations: from left to right: James Francis (Saffron); Michael Newey (Broadland); Anita Jones (Freebridge); Andrew Smith (Havebury); Wendy Evans-Hendrick (Orwell)
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