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.

    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)

    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.

    Northrepps

    North Repps eco homes - architect image

    Northrepps

    Our new development at Northrepps has been completed, comprising of 19 operationally net zero homes after an 18-month project.

    The 19 new homes were designed by architects Ingleton Wood and built by Norwich-based contractor Smith of Honingham.

    Energy-Efficient Features

    These new homes are designed to be highly energy-efficient, featuring insulated timber frames, triple-glazed windows, air source heat pumps, and mechanical ventilation systems with heat recovery. Solar panels on the roofs are expected to generate enough electricity to cover the average annual use of each home.

    The scheme comprises of:

    • 8 Affordable Rent
    • 2 Shared Ownership
    • 9 Open Market

    New Tenants in Northrepps

    Our first tenants have recently moved into their new home!

    You can read more about this in our latest news article Broadland Housing Unveils 19 Carbon Zero Homes in Northrepps.

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