Annex
Supplementary memorandum by English Partnerships
(AFH 61(a))
A SELECTION OF ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS' AFFORDABLE
HOUSING INITIATIVES
ESTATE RENEWAL:
TELFORD, BASILDON
AND RUNCORN
We are working with the Housing Corporation,
Local Authority, RDA and other partners to secure the comprehensive
regeneration of the Woodside Estate in Telford (2,350 homes).
DTLR has recently invited proposals from a number of areas to
tackle the problems of abandonment and housing market failure
through the Pathfinder Housing Abandonment Areas initiative. The
Woodside Estate in Telford falls within such a pathfinder area
and the Woodside Project is an opportunity to pilot such an initiative.
We propose to apply the same principles to two
further rundown estates. These are the Five Links Estate in Basildon
(1,600 homes) and Castlefields in Runcorn (2,247 homes). In all
these areas, regeneration would introduce a broader price and
tenure mix and support improvements to local services and facilities
as part of an area wide regeneration strategy.
KEY WORKER
HOUSING
At the request of DTLR's Affordable Housing
Unit, we are exploring the contribution that we can make to the
Government's Starter Home Initiative. The initiative aims to help
around 10,000 key workers, particularly nurses, teachers and police
to buy homes in areas where high house prices would otherwise
prevent them from living in, or near, the communities they serve.
To respond to DTLR's request, we have reviewed our own portfolio
and believe that we could theoretically facilitate the provision
of up to 2,000 key worker homes in the south or England, making
use of our own land assets, over the next three years. Having
established the supply position, we are now discussing with our
partners the volume, timing and type of demand for key worker
housing.
MEDEN VALLEY
We are working with the Housing Corporation,
EMDA and other partners to develop a single purpose vehicle to
tackle the problems of the former Coal Board housing in the Meden
Valley. The scheme has the potential to refurbish 400 homes and
to facilitate the development of 240 dwellings, along with complementary
public realm and environmental improvements. The scheme will produce
homes across the price range required to support community renewal
which can be sustained into the long-term.
MILLENNIUM COMMUNITIES
The first developments in Greenwich pioneered
an approach which will deliver a broad range of housing at both
open and below market out turn costs. With the benefit of this
experience, new millennium communities will provide greater certainty
through the briefing process and increasingly improve on the delivery
of housing across a broad price range. We are discussing future
designations with the Housing Corporation at this early stage
to secure their input to the programme, and thus enhance the range
and/or lower the cost of the affordable housing provided.
STRATEGIC JOINT
VENTURES
English Partnerships' Strategic Join Ventures
initiative to make better use of public sector land takes a proactive
approach to unlocking the potential of previously used land. In
particular, we are working closely with NHS Estates, Defence Estates
and Rail Property Ltd. Opportunities exist to contribute to affordable
provision through the early development of redundant facilities
such as surplus health care accommodation in urban areas. For
example, surplus NHS property tends to be in central locations
with good public transport links; suitably refurbished, they could
provide affordable homes which could be delivered in a relatively
short time scale.
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