A County Durham housing association has overturned the loss of affordable homes through ‘Right to Buy’ for the first time since the 1980s.
Thousands of much-needed affordable homes have been lost to future tenants through the controversial scheme since it was introduced by the Government in 1980. But an innovative construction programme by believe housing has bucked this trend in the majority of County Durham for the first time.
believe housing is now on course to complete more than 125 new affordable homes in the 2019-20 financial year, with Right to Buy sales running at just under that level. Work already committed for the 2020-21 financial year should see believe housing’s new-build programme comfortably outstrip Right to Buy sales, with further growth in the pipeline.
The change in fortunes for affordable housing in the area is the result of a £70m investment by believe housing in constructing new properties. The programme, unlike many others, has been designed to focus on smaller sites where shorter turnaround times can be achieved. A mix of family homes and wheelchair adaptable bungalows are being built, with work on nine sites currently underway. The approach also has the benefit of creating new homes in a wider range of communities.
Chief Executive of believe housing, Bill Fullen (pictured above at a completed housing development in Crook), said: “For nearly 40 years housing organisations have been grappling with the aftermath of Right to Buy, with a reduction in the number of homes we can provide to those who need them most. But now, for the first time, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel and begin to really tackle the housing crisis.
“This turnaround to building more affordable homes than are being lost is a really important crossroad for housing in County Durham. It’s taken many years of hard work to get here, but it’s work that will mean that scores more families in communities across the area will have access to an affordable and secure home.
“Our construction programme is different from most in that we haven’t only been interested in the raw numbers; we’ve been working with local communities to help decide what is best for the long term. That’s why we’ve chosen to build on so many smaller sites and develop our work organically, which is really paying off. It’s the kind of approach that only a not-for-profit housing association can take.”
Construction has been gathering pace since the 700-home programme was launched in 2017. Already communities including Bishop Auckland, Crook and Rookhope have benefited from new homes, with construction underway in Bowburn, Peterlee and Seaham too. Around 45 sites will receive new homes by the time the current programme is completed in 2022.
Many of the homes being delivered have received funding from the Homes England Affordable Homes Programme. believe housing is backing the Northern Housing Consortium’s #OurNorth campaign calling for the Government to expand the support offered for affordable home construction in the north of England.
believe housing already provides affordable homes for 18,000 families across the region with properties stretching from the Durham coast to Wearhead in the north Pennines.
