Broadland Housing Association

Homes, community & support since 1963

    • community

    Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund success

    As a member of Independent East, Broadland will receive funding from Wave 2 of the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF Wave 2.1) to improve the energy efficiency of its homes.

    Independent East, an informal alliance of housing associations based in Norfolk and Suffolk, has secured almost £9 million in funding to boost energy efficiency in hundreds of social housing homes. The funding is being administered through Broadland Housing Association as the consortium lead.

    Warm, energy-efficient homes

    The funding from Wave 2 of the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF Wave 2.1) will fund the installation of energy-saving measures in 800 homes, such as loft insulation and new windows. The upgrades will mean properties currently below Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C will be brought up to that standard, which will help to:

    • deliver warm, energy efficient homes
    • reduce carbon emissions
    • tackle fuel poverty
    • support green jobs
    • develop the retrofit sector
    • improve the comfort, health, and wellbeing of tenants

    The value of effective partnerships

    We are very proud of the partnership with Independent East members.  This funding shows what an effective partnership can achieve for the benefit of our tenants. This funding will help to improve the energy efficiency of tenants’ homes at a time when fuel bills are at a historic high. We will be focusing on improvements to 5 of our schemes, focusing on upgrading to carbon-friendly heating systems and electricity-generating solar panels, ensuring that the energy performance increases to a minimum of a ‘C’ rating.

    Justin O’Connor, Assistant Asset Director, Broadland Housing Association

    Funding breakdown

    The funding breakdown between the housing associations is as follows:  

    Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring

    A community consultation took place on 27th March 2023, Community Room, Little Snoring, Norfolk

    Broadland Housing Association, a partner of North Norfolk District Council, is considering proposals to develop a local needs mixed-tenure exception housing scheme* at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring. The scheme would include the following tenures:

    Affordable rent and shared ownership homes would be prioritised to households in housing need who have a local connection to Little Snoring Parish and physically adjoining parishes. Market homes would initially to be marketed to the local community.

    All community feedback has been reported. 

    *affordable rent and shared ownership homes on an exception housing scheme are protected as affordable in perpetuity. Right to Buy / Right to acquire does not apply.

    Aerial shot of proposed development at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring
    Aerial photo showing location of proposed scheme
    Architect's drawing (overhead view 2) of proposed development at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring
    Architect’s drawing: aerial view from south-west
    Architect's drawing (overhead view) of proposed development at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring
    Architect’s drawing: aerial view from south
    Architect's drawing (overhead 3) of proposed development at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring
    Architect’s drawing: aerial view from north-east
    Architect's drawing (1) of proposed development at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring
    Architect’s drawing: view from south
    Architect's drawing (2) of proposed development at Kettlestone Road, Little Snoring
    Architect’s drawing: view from west

    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.


    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)

    Living Wage Week 2022: why a fair wage matters this year more than ever

    Living Wage Week 2022 - accredited employer graphic

    To celebrate Living Wage Week (14 to 20 November 2022), Norwich employers and employees have shared their stories, explaining why a real Living Wage matters more than ever during the cost-of-living crisis.

    The real Living Wage is an hourly rate of pay calculated by the Living Wage Foundation based on what people need to live on to pay for costs including fuel, energy, rent and food. It currently stands at £10.90/hr outside London, and is paid voluntarily by employers, going beyond the national minimum rates set by Government – just £9.50/hr for anyone over the age of 23.

    During Living Wage Week, Norwich’s Future Radio listeners can tune in for a full schedule of features, quizzes and interviews, and residents should look out for Living Wage messages that have been painted around the city (pictured).

    Phoenix Events (East) Ltd, a security and events management company, is an accredited Living Wage Employer based in Norwich. Anna Ryan, Operations Manager at Phoenix Events (East) Ltd, explains why the business pays the Real Living Wage and the impact it has had:

    We are striving to ensure that anyone who comes to work for Phoenix will always feel like their work is valued. This should be reflected not only in the way the company treats them, and the service we provide, but in their payslip at the end of the month. We see the difference it makes for our employees to see that what they do is being recognised, not by paying them the bare minimum, but a fair wage people can live on. 

    This extends even more so to our younger employees, who would earn considerably less under the National Minimum Wage. Many 18-year-olds have the same financial responsibilities as people well into their 20s and 30s – why should someone be paid less for doing the same job?

    Jesse Manning, Cleaning Coordinator at Broadland Housing, an accredited Living Wage Employer since 2015, described how being paid a Real Living Wage has affected him:

    When I started working for Broadland it was the first time I had ever been paid the Real Living Wage. With the increase in wages, I was lucky to find a social rented flat, with the Real Living Wage helping secure this tenancy, because I could now afford the rent. The stability of my having my own home gave my life a real positive boost and the chance to live independently. 

    At Broadland, I am part of the team that reviews and awards new contracts. I am proud that Broadland are a Living Wage Employer, and that it also requires its contractors to pay the Real Living Wage too. For me this so important. It has made such a difference to my own life, and I like to think that it will help others in the same way.

    Norwich Living Wage City Action Group is a coalition of local businesses, charities and public sector organisations who are already accredited Living Wage employers. It is aiming to triple the number of employers paying the real Living Wage to 150 by 2025. There are currently 50 Real Living Wage accredited employers in Norwich, meaning 1,114 workers have already received a pay rise that meets the real Living Wage.

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