Form lasting partnerships to build more, truly affordable homes, recommends Nigel Sedman, Executive Director of Homes at ForHousing.
With housing waiting lists groaning, building new homes is essential. In fact, research from housing charity Shelter earlier this year reveals 1.2 million households are stuck on social housing waiting lists. That’s up by 5% in the last two years.
The social housing sector’s role in tackling the housing crisis is crucial. Throughout my career at ForHousing, I have overseen the development of thousands of high-quality homes. This year marks a decade of developing homes in Salford and across the North West. Since 2013, we have either built or have on-site 1,900 new homes — 70% of which are offered at a social or affordable rent. We understand that having a safe place to call home increases people’s life chances. That’s why we have 1,330 more homes in the pipeline.
Leading role
None of this would be possible without partnering with like-minded organisations, charities, and national, regional and local government. The Chancellor’s recent announcement that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will have greater control over funding and building affordable housing, is good news. It provides an opportunity for us to step up our partnership working across the region to build much-needed homes, and we look
forward to playing our part.
In Salford, ForHousing’s role leading the new development element of the Salford Strategic Housing Partnership means I see first-hand how working in partnership makes more things possible. Collaborating closely with Salford City Council means we can regenerate disused council land. We have done this many times over the years, for
example Amblecote Gardens, an extra-care scheme in Salford launched in 2014.
As with every extra-care scheme we develop, we worked closely with the council to align the project with their older person’s strategy. The transformation of the wider Amblecote neighbourhood had already been underway with 100 new family homes, but the completion of Amblecote Gardens was the icing on the cake. By working
together we provided new amenities including shops, a library, GP services, a pharmacy, and hairdressers — benefitting not just new tenants but local residents too, helping create a vibrant community.
Working together
The Willows in Weaste, completed in 2017, is another flagship development from the past decade. It provided more than 100 new affordable homes on the former Salford Red Devils rugby ground.
We are now doing something similar with the former Salford City Roosters grounds. By working together with the club and the council, we are ensuring that the Roosters retain a smaller site and will benefit from better facilities, while providing almost 50 eco-friendly social rent homes.
Partnerships also mean strength in numbers when it comes to funding bids. Thanks to working closely with Salford City Council, we have successfully secured funding for specialist housing schemes, for example, to tackle homelessness.
Sometimes partnerships are a requirement. For Homes England grant bids, we frequently work with local authorities to make sure our proposals include the necessary variety of homes. It strengthens our application and means we can deliver homes the local area really needs. For instance, we secured over £1m in Homes England funding with Cheshire West and Chester Council to build almost 140 mixed-tenure homes in Wharton Green, Winsford.
And when it comes to planning permission, we all know linking with partners is crucial. Getting pre-planning
advice and feedback from the council is invaluable, while continuing to meet with local residents and tenants to hear what they want means we create sustainable communities that stand the test of time.
Looking ahead, we know partnership working can be the catalyst to drive forward opportunities for new housing
schemes that meet a range of needs. It’s tougher than ever for people to afford quality housing that gives them the best possible chance in life. But everyone deserves that chance. That’s why our focus for the next 10 years is on developing homes for social rent and making more things possible for more people.
Header image shows ForHousing’s Amblecote Gardens extra-care scheme in Salford.
