Broadland Housing Association

Homes, community & support since 1963

    • social housing

    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.

    Martham – housing needs survey

    Broadland Housing homes at Trunch

    Martham

    Housing Needs Survey

    Broadland Housing Association agreed with Martham Parish Council to carry out a survey about housing need in the parish.

    If the survey identifies there is sufficient need for affordable homes, Broadland Housing Association will work in partnership with the Parish Council and local landowners to deliver either a 100% affordable housing scheme or a mixed-tenure housing exception scheme in the village, dependent on need and funding.

    Background

    Exception housing schemes are provided on land in the countryside that would otherwise not be permitted for development. The homes on an exception housing scheme are allocated using the Local Allocations Agreement. This ensures that homes are prioritised for households with a local connection to the parish where the scheme is located and the adjoining civil parishes. In this case the scheme forms part of a larger allocated development at the entrance to the village, off Repps Road.

    Housing need

    Housing need in rural areas can often be hidden and not necessarily visible to the wider community or statutory authorities. An individual or household is considered to be in housing need when:

    • they require separate or alternative accommodation AND
    • they are unable to rent or buy housing generally available on the open market.

    Affordable homes

    Two tenures of affordable homes are typically provided on exception housing schemes:

    • Affordable rent properties are let at rents discounted at 80% of market and generally capped at the Local Housing Allowance.
    • Shared ownership allows a household to buy an equity share of their home and pay rent on the portion retained by the housing association. Broadland Housing Association will retain the freehold. Shared owners are able to purchase equity shares up to an 80% cap of property value.

    A small number of market sale homes may also be required to generate cross-subsidy and make the affordable homes more financially viable.\

    Planning application was submitted in Summer 2023.

    Please find the link here to the planning portal:

    Corpusty

    Artist impression of proposed new development atCorpusty, Norfolk

    Corpusty

    The pre-planning consultation for Norwich Road, Corpusty is now closed. As part of the planning process, there will be further opportunity for members of the community in Corpusty to view and comment on the proposed 38 new homes.

    Meanwhile, please watch a video of our proposals.

    If you have any queries, please contact Adam Ballard.

    Brisley, Norfolk

    Broadland Housing Association development at Trunch, Norfolk

    Brisley – housing needs survey

    Broadland Housing Association agreed with Brisley Parish Council to carry out a survey about housing need in the parish. This survey closed in July 2022.

    If the survey identifies there is sufficient need for affordable homes, Broadland Housing Association will work in partnership with the Parish Council and local landowners to deliver either a 100% affordable housing scheme or a mixed-tenure housing exception scheme in the village, dependent on need and funding. Broadland Housing Association will then invite local landowners to put forward potential sites for consideration.

    Background

    Exception housing schemes are provided on land in the countryside that would otherwise not be permitted for development. The homes on an exception housing scheme are allocated using the Local Allocations Agreement, which ensures the homes are prioritised for households with a local connection to the parish in which the scheme is located and the adjoining civil parishes.

    Housing need in rural areas can often be hidden and not necessarily visible to the wider community or statutory authorities. An individual or household is considered to be in housing need when:

    • they require separate or alternative accommodation AND
    • they are unable to rent or buy housing generally available on the open market.

    Affordable homes

    Two tenures of affordable homes are typically provided on exception housing schemes:

    • Affordable rent properties are let at rents discounted at 80% of market and generally capped at the Local Housing Allowance.
    • Shared ownership allows a household to buy an equity share of their home and pay rent on the portion retained by the housing association. Broadland Housing Association will retain the freehold. Shared owners are able to purchase equity shares up to an 80% cap of property value.

    A small number of market sale homes may also be required to generate cross-subsidy and make the affordable homes more financially viable.

    If you have any queries, please contact Adam Ballard.


    Colby & Banningham

    Banningham schedule of accommodation
    Banningham - proposed site map for 9 new affordable homes (aerial view)

    Following a community consultation of residents of Colby and Banningham in Norfolk, we have submitted proposals to build approximately 9 new affordable homes on Banningham Road.

    Across north Norfolk local people are finding it increasingly difficult to rent or buy on the open market. Increases in property prices exceed rises in local incomes and private landlords sell off rental property or convert to holiday lets.

    North Norfolk District Council‘s waiting list for Colby and Banningham includes several households with a local connection to the parish and adjoining parishes, who are not able to access suitable homes locally.

    Accessibility by WAH