Broadland Housing Group

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Lakenfields shortlisted for top planning prize

Lakenfields at Webster Court, Norwich (exterior)

Lakenfields in line for top planning award

Our Lakenfields scheme in Norwich has been shortlisted for the RTPI East of England Awards for Planning Excellence!

Lakenfields at Webster Court, Norwich from the exterior
Lakenfields at Webster Court, south Norwich (picture: Bidwells)

The RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Awards for Planning Excellence celebrate some of the eastern region’s most impressive projects.

Lakenfields, at Webster Court, is a finalist in the Excellence in Planning for Communities (small schemes of 50 or less) categoy.

Working with Norwich City Council and Bidwells, we successfully obtained planning permission in January 2021. The project itself was completed in late 2021, and tenants moved into the modular apartments in December 2021.

The scheme provided rapid development of affordable housing to address homelessness in Norwich through dynamic partnership working with the local authority. This required the planning team to gain consent quickly and without any pre-commencement conditions to hit the timescales.

Andrew Savage, Development Director, Broadland Housing Association

Dynamic collaboration

A the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government released funding to help address homelessness. It was an opportunity for local authorities and housing associations to work together to deliver the affordable housing needed.

Lakenfields at Webster Court is a direct outcome of this funding stream. It demonstrates how collaborative working can deliver high-quality affordable housing quickly to meet urgent needs.

This project showcases how planning, and the wider property industry, causes real tangible change in local communities and benefits the wellbeing of vulnerable individuals.

Norwich is consistently named one of the best places to live in the UK. However, there was an acute need for accommodation to support vulnerable residents, particularly following the pandemic. [This scheme] is providing Norwich with better facilities and care for its residents by providing vital support to those in need.

Jake Lambert, Principal Planner, Bidwells

Positive impact on quality of life

The awards highlight “exceptional examples of how planning and planners have a positive impact on our quality of life in creating exceptional places and protecting our environment”.  

The Regional Judging Panel have now reviewed and judged all entries. The winners will be announced at the RTPI East of England Awards Gala on 30 June 2022 at Hylands House in Chelmsford, Essex.

The top-scoring entries in all 15 categories will go through to the national finals later this year. The national winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 30 November 2022.

Homelessness impact review 2018-22

Simon St Martins NSAP Norwich

Homelessness impact review 2018-22

We are delighted to publish our homelessness impact review, 2018-22.

This report outlines the work we have been doing to address and prevent homelessness over the last 4 years. As a founding member of Homes for Cathy, we are committed to ending homelessness.

Homelessness impact review 2018-22Download
Front cover of Broadland Housing Association's homeless impact report, 2018-22
Front cover, featuring one of our King’s Lynn tenants

Most of the projects in the homelessness impact review have been delivered thanks to strong working partnerships with local authorities, charities and other housing providers.

No single organisation can end homelessness on its own. We need to continue building effective, joined-up partnerships to find sustainable solutions to homelessness, now and in the future.

Read more about some of our projects to prevent homelessness:

Simon, who has benefited from the Next Steps Accommodation Programme in Norwich
Tenant from the Next Step Accommodation Programme in Norwich (picture: St Martins)

Work starts on 7 new affordable homes at Ketts Hill, Norwich

Ketts Hills start on site ceremony June 2022

Work starts on 7 new affordable homes at Ketts Hill, Norwich

Work is now underway on our joint project with Norwich City Council to build 7 new affordable houses at Ketts Hill. The homes are aimed at helping rough sleepers in the city.

Norwich City Council has provided the land, and we are building the homes with the help of grant funding from Homes England via the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme.

The 7 x 1-bedroom homes have a timber frame design for speed of construction and to ensure low embodied carbon.  Each home will have its own small front garden. 

Architects image of Ketts Hill development, Norwich
location of development at Ketts Hill Norwich
Architect’s image and location of new affordable homes at Ketts Hill

Second joint homelessness project

Councillor Gail Harris, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for social housing, joined Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director at Broadland Housing Association, at a short ceremony to mark the start of work on site:

This is the second joint homelessness project between the city council and Broadland Housing Association, which builds on the success of our first build at Lakenfields.

The project team has secured funding from the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme, which will enable 7 new homes to be built and also fund support workers to help the residents settle into their new homes.  They will also provide the help each individual needs to live independent, happy and fulfilling lives. 

As at Lakenfields this site will soon provide high-quality, affordable housing for those in desperate need of accommodation and support – another small development which will transform lives.

Gail Harris, Cabinet Member for Social Housing, Norwich City Council

Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director, Broadland Housing Association, added:

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.

Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director, Broadland Housing Association
(L to r) Cate Oliver, Norwich City Council; Chris Ewbank, Chair, Broadland Housing; Gail Harris, Norwich City Council, Andrew Savage

Norwich-based property and construction consultancy Ingleton Wood has been appointed to provide architectural and utility design services for the Ketts Hill development.

We are proud to help shape the Ketts Hill project which will provide immediate support for those in desperate housing need across Norwich.

This contemporary take on a traditional terrace will provide high-quality living accommodation in an attractive setting, with essential facilities for future residents.  Ketts Hill is an exemplar of multi-agency collaboration to benefit the local community.”

Chris Stammers, Director and Architect, Ingleton Wood

The 7 new homes are being built by local constructor H Smith & Sons of Honingham. The timber frames are manufactured in Norfolk by Timber Frame Management.  The project will be completed in the autumn of 2022.

Samford Court tenants plant Jubilee rose

Samford Court tenants plant Jubilee rose

Tenants at our Samford Court sheltered housing scheme have planted a ‘Queen Elizabeth’ rose in the communal garden to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Tenants plant rose at Samford Court to celebrate Queen's Jubilee

As part of the celebrations, tenants enjoyed a special cream tea provided by the Rural Coffee Caravan, which regularly visits the scheme at Worlingham, near Beccles.

Broadland tenant Colin Probert and Rural Coffee Caravan community engagement officer Annette Dunning planted the rose, just outside the scheme’s communal lounge.

Coming together to celebrate

The event was the first time that all the tenants had come together since lockdown. Scheme Manager Dawn Lambert called the gathering a “big step forward”.

The pandemic and lockdown has been such a difficult time for our tenants, as at many sheltered schemes, so it was lovely for them finally to be able to come together in the sunshine to celebrate the Jubilee.

With a beautiful rose bush planted as a lasting memento of the occasion, this has been the perfect way to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen Elizabeth rose, which is a pale pink colour, was supplied by Barnby Garden Centre in Beccles.

Work begins on new council flats in Great Yarmouth

Work begins on new council flats in Great Yarmouth

A ground breaking ceremony marked the start of work on 18 new council flats in Great Yarmouth. Broadland is working in partnership with Great Yarmouth Borough Council on the £3 million development.

Architect drawing, Jubilee Court, Great Yarmouth (picture courtesy of GYBC)

Jubilee Court is named in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. It will comprise 3 blocks of 3-storey buildings containing one-bedroom flats for council tenants.

Each 50sqm flat is designed to be suitable for two people and will be built to high energy-efficiency standards. There will be a communal garden and parking area.

Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director, joined members of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, One Public Estate and H. Smith and Sons the ceremony by the Beach Coach Station in May.

The need is outstripping supply. It’s the first time in a long time social and affordable housing has been developed here by the council. It’s good to be able to help the council piece this together. The council are really trying to meet that demand and I think this is fantastic for Great Yarmouth.

Andrew Savage, Executive Development Director

At the event, Great Yarmouth Borough Council Leader Carl Smith said the new development was the “biggest expansion” of the council’s housing stock in almost 20 years. Speaking to the Great Yarmouth Mercury, he said:

The 18 new flats will offer valuable new housing, particularly for single people and young families.

Carl Smith, Leader, Great Yarmouth Borough Council

The homes are due to be completed in around 12 months.

Main picture credit: James Weeds

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