housing

Affordable Homes Project Begins in West Beckham

August 7, 2024

Affordable Homes Project Begins in West Beckham

Construction has started ten new affordable homes for rent in West Beckham, a village in North Norfolk. These homes will be prioritised for local residents and those from nearby areas.

Representatives from Broadland Housing Association and North Norfolk District Council held a sod-cutting ceremony at one of the sites on Church Road, opposite St Helens & All Saints Church.

New Homes Details

Church Road Site

This site will have one four-bedroom house, three three-bedroom houses, and one two-bedroom house. The homes will be designed to look like a traditional farmhouse and converted barns, set back from the road with green spaces and wildflower areas.

Sheringham Road Site

This site will feature four two-bedroom bungalows and one one-bedroom bungalow, arranged to resemble a converted farmyard.

To view the Site Models and further details visit West Beckham – Broadland Housing Association (broadlandgroup.org)

High Environmental Standards

All the homes will be built with:

Air source heat pumps
Photovoltaic panels
Electric charging points

Collaborative Effort

This project is a partnership between Broadland Housing Association, North Norfolk District Council, and Homes England. It is part of a larger initiative to provide affordable housing across North Norfolk.

Community Support

Michael Newey, Chief Executive of BHA, emphasised the need for affordable housing in local communities, saying:

Right across North Norfolk, villages are in critical need of affordable housing so that local people can live and work in their local communities. This is a very good example of a scheme which is delivering exactly those kinds of homes.

Cllr Wendy Fredericks, Deputy Leader of North Norfolk District Council, expressed her excitement:

I am beyond delighted that we are able to break the ground today on these two amazing high-quality affordable housing schemes in West Beckham.

Cllr Callum Ringer, the North Norfolk district councillor for West Beckham, added:

I am delighted that we were able to create homes for ten local families in our village, and so glad that people who were brought up here will have a chance to return.

Construction Timeline

The homes on Church Road are expected to be completed by Spring 2025, and those by Sheringham Road by Summer 2025. Priority for these homes will be given to people connected to West Beckham and nearby villages.

Interested in Applying?

The homes will be advertised closer to completion. For more information or to apply, please visit www.north-norfolk.gov.uk

West Beckham

August 6, 2024

West Beckham

Our new development scheme at West Beckham will be the construction of ten new affordable rent homes on two sites. The homes will be constructed by timber frames and in the style of converted barns.

Working with North Norfolk District Council and Homes England, we have started construction works on site and are currently making progress. The new homes are being built by Smith of Honingham.

Design

On Church Road, the design of the houses will be in the style of a former farmhouse and converted barns. They will be positioned set back from the road behind amenity and wildflower areas to create green opposite the church.

On Sheringham Road, these homes will be bungalows in the style of a converted farmyard.

Church Road

1 x 2-bedroom house
1 x 4-bedroom house
3 x 3-bedroom houses

Sheringham Road

4 x 2-bedroom bungalows
1 x 1-bedroom bungalow

Environmental

All of the new homes will be built to a high environmental standard, with air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels and electric charging points all contributing to a ‘B’ EPC rating.

What is Affordable Housing?

Affordable housing includes:

Affordable rent (rents capped at Local Housing Allowance)
Low-cost Home Ownership

With limited public funding, we have developed a mixed-tenure model. Surplus from the sale of market homes helps to subsidise the delivery of affordable homes to appropriate design and quality standard for the area.

The affordable homes on this scheme will be available for households in housing need, and prioritised for those with local connection to the parish or adjoining parishes.

Housing Need, Affordable Housing & Local Allocation Download

Local Housing Need & Parish Map Download

Apply for West Beckham

The new homes on Church Road are due to be completed by Spring 2025, and on Sheringham Road in Summer 2025. If you wish to apply, please visit north-norfolk.gov.uk.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council signs new Strategic Partnership

May 30, 2024

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) is set to deliver improvements by signing new partnership with two leading housing associations.

Over the next five years, GYBC, along with Broadland Housing Association and Orwell Housing Association, will be coming together to help fulfil the council’s vision of continued regeneration in the borough. This will be by increasing the number of new homes and the speed at which they can be built.

The Conge, Great Yarmouth

The first project the organisations will work on is a plan for 82 new homes at The Conge in Great Yarmouth.

The demolition work on the south side of The Conge is already finished, and thanks to extra support from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund and the OPE Brownfield Land Release Fund, the first phase of the project is getting underway.

Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said:

We are delighted to be working with Broadland and Orwell. We are determined to deliver new, high-quality homes for our residents because we know there is increasing demand. By working in partnership with two such experienced and expert organisations we will be able to ensure regeneration takes place at a pace we simply wouldn’t deliver on our own.

The Conge is such a vital link from the railway station to the town centre and a major new housing development at the site clearly demonstrates our ambition for the future of our borough.
_{Carl Smith, Great Yarmouth Borough Council}

In a joint statement, Andrew Savage, Broadland’s Executive Director of Development, and Greg Dodds, Orwell’s Assistant Director of Development and Growth said:

Orwell and Broadland are both locally based and have a long track record of providing quality homes for rent and sale across Norfolk and Suffolk. The strategic partnership with Great Yarmouth Council is an exciting opportunity to work in collaboration over the coming years to support delivery of new homes across the Borough.

Orwell and Broadland are delighted to bring forward this iconic site in the centre of Great Yarmouth as the first project under the partnership. The application at The Conge will help transform a brownfield site into high-quality, well-designed and attractive housing which will provide much-needed affordable accommodation in the town centre.

Alongside other improvements happening in the town centre, like The Place and the new market, the work at The Conge will create a link from the railway station to these new developments.

Public Consultation

Starting on Monday 15th April, there is the chance for the public to have their say on the plans for The Conge. You can find out about the proposals at The Atrium of the Town Hall in Great Yarmouth on Wednesday 17th April between 11am – 4pm. Depending upon planning approval, construction on the first 32 homes could start next year.

Before the submission of the planning application for the first phase of homes, people are invited to view and comment on the proposals at https://www.ingletonwood.co.uk/the-conge-consultation.php.

Broadland Housing AGM 2023: Maintaining Our Focus

October 6, 2023

Celebrating 60 years of service, Broadland Housing Association continues its unwavering commitment to addressing housing needs and homelessness. In the face of significant financial challenges, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) emphasised the dedication to Broadland’s mission.

Michael Newey, Chief Executive of Broadland Housing Association, pledged that the organisation would maintain its focus, despite the cost-of-living crisis and interest rates resulting in an unprecedented financial squeeze.

More people are unable to find affordable homes in the private sector than when we started, while our tenants are facing unparalleled economic pressures, with food inflation at a 42 year high, and energy costs still at very high levels.
_{Michael Newey, Chief Executive}

Meeting Housing Demand

During the past financial year, Broadland Housing successfully delivered 131 new homes, compromising 55 for affordable rent and 76 for shared ownership.

Mr. Newey pointed out that the organisation’s ongoing struggle to balance managing existing homes, delivering quality services, and building new homes to meet growing housing demand, while ensuring sustainability.

He also emphasised the pressing housing need, revealing that 18,710 households in Norfolk and East Suffolk are on the waiting list for housing. Nationally, the availability of homes for rent has decreased by 1.1 million since 1979, with affordable homes in the overall housing stock declining from 31% to just 17% during the same period.

Optimism Amidst Challenges

Despite these challenges, Mr. Newey remains optimistic about the future.

We are proud of holding true to our purpose across our first 60 years, and the need for Broadland Housing is just as massive today as it ever was. Despite the frustration of facing our toughest financial year yet, we are optimistic for the future, and we will remain resolutely focussed on our purpose of tackling housing need and homelessness.
_{Michael Newey, Chief Executive}

Selected Statistics from the 2022/23 Annual Report

5,561 homes provided
602 homes allocated, including 108 to homeless households
15,557 responsive repairs completed
439 tenants supported in sustaining their tenancies
131 new homes delivered, compromising 55 for affordable rent and 76 for shared ownership

For more information, you can download the 2022/23 Annual Report from: www.broadlandgroup.org/about-us/governance-documents/annual-reviews.

Celebrating our 60th Birthday at Shipfield

September 21, 2023

We recently celebrated Broadland’s 60^th birthday at Shipfield, our housing development scheme in Sprowston, founded in 1963. Tenants joined us in celebration with a barbeque, cake and a speech from our Chief Executive, Michael Newey.

The event took place on Shipfield’s green, situated in the heart of the scheme, bringing together the community, board members both past and present and our members to celebrate together!

It’s completely sensible and right to be here at Shipfield today, because this was our very first scheme. I think it was a statement of intent and ambition building the scheme. It was very much about saying – We’re here. We’re going to provide decent homes at low rents to people in this community.
_{Michael Newey, Chief Executive}

60 Years of Broadland

Broadland was founded in 1963 with a clear goal: to offer affordable housing to those who couldn’t afford homes in the open market, whether renting or owning. Despite challenges, including a shortage of social housing, we’ve continued to grow.

We continually rise to the challenge of the development of new homes and tackling the needs for permanent accommodation.

The need is still acute; there will be 271,000 people staying in temporary accommodation tonight; 130,000 of those are children. Despite our best efforts, today the social housing sector is 1.1 million homes smaller than it was in 1979.”

When I joined 20 years ago, we had 3,464 homes. Today we have 5,634 – so we have grown on average by 110 homes a year over the last two decades.

Michael addressed the current financial climate with an optimistic outlook.

It would be wrong not to acknowledge that we are in tough times right now; our 60th birthday is marked by financial pressure. But I am really optimistic for the future. We have a track record of making tough but right decisions so we can safeguard our tenants’ homes and also tackle the housing need in the county.
_{Michael Newey, Chief Executive}

Employee Recognition

Over the last 60 years, we wouldn’t be where we are without our employees.

Broadland – I see as very much a people business. People are how we got here. Yes, we have delivered bricks and mortar, but it is actually people that delivered that.

The commitment of board members, of residents, of staff over the last 60 years is the reason we are here today – I very much see it as a relay race, passing the baton on from one generation to another. None of us are owners of Broadland, we are custodians of Broadland.

As a result, Broadland is home to many longstanding employees dedicated to helping our tenants and housing schemes.

We are very fortunate to have a very dedicated team – We’ve still got remarkably low turnover in staff. I think what holds people here is the commitment to our tenants and commitment to each other.
_{Michael Newey, Chief Executive}

Anniversary Milestone

Our 60^th anniversary is a milestone, not a destination. We’re excited about the future and will stay committed to our mission of addressing housing needs.

We are looking forward to the future. Our priorities will stay completely true to our original purpose of tackling housing need and inequality, getting closer to our tenants, staying independent, and maintaining our geographical focus.
_{Michael Newey, Chief Executive}

Events like this celebration allow our tenants to meet and speak with the people of Broadland. Connecting with our communities and celebrating our achievements is incredibly important as we continue to deliver Broadland’s mission.