for individuals and the community

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• more choice over home quality, type and design styles

• potentially much more affordable, but this may depend on the cost of the land

• the option of self-governance and asset locking the value of the land in a trust for the permanent benefit of the community

• sharing amenities, resources and services that can reduce individual household costs but also encourage more positive social behaviour

• improved community cohesion, accountability and a sense of connection leading to long term sustainability of a community

• greater scope to incorporate innovation and environmental design in the homes and community as a whole

 

 

for a Housing Association

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• as professional consultants we would manage the full design and specification process including the community consultation process and co-design workshops

• almost the same timescale as a more traditional housing project - with our standardised process we can recoup most of the time allocated to the two month co-design period

• there would be an overall carbon saving by providing lower energy homes and efficient renewable energy systems

• tackling fuel poverty - lower energy bills for tenants can help to reduce the risk of rent arrears, helping to bolster cashflow

• providing more appropriate accommodation that meets the specific needs of the residents, such as age-friendly or smaller micro homes

• vast benefits to a community approach, including increased resident satisfaction and community resilience, as well as contributing to addressing social disadvantage

• building a partnering relationship that could lead to becoming a social landlord on other projects that we're developing and extending its services into the wider community

• ​an opportunity to pioneer community-focused developments on relatively small scale projects

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for a Council

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• the opportunity to provide more affordable and/or social housing

• if Custom and/or Self Build homes are included it would provide the ability to discharge its obligations under the Right to Build legislation

• offering more varied market appeal to satisfy a growing demand for this type of housing

• proven to provide greater stability in housing tenure leading to further benefits such as consistency in educational attainment for children

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for a developer

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• some of the professional fees and infrastructure costs could be paid for through grants such as the Community Housing Fund

• a growing number of loans and low-cost finance options are available to fund these types of developments 

• if homes are built as Custom and/or Self Build projects then they will be exempt from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

• the potential for partnership agreements with land owners, where payment can be deferred until individual plots are sold

• improved sales rates and returns from selling serviced plots, therefore improving cash-flow and less exposure to market fluctuations

• the project would be more favourable to a Local Authority and could be included as part of a Section 106 Agreement

• greater local public support for new homes and estate regeneration and engagement in the planning process

• we would manage the full design and specification process including the co-design workshops

• potentially less accountable for future defects as the homes would be commissioned and built by separate home manufacturers or they would be self-built

 

 

for a landowner

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• a greater opportunity to sell land for housing, particularly a smaller site, or where it can be classed as a Rural Exception Site 

• a much quicker return on the price of the land (compared to other community-led projects) due to our fast-track service model

• a more ethical approach to providing land for housing, often important when land owners live (or operate if they're a business) in the same community

• an excellent opportunity for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) where a business or organisation can benefit society whilst boosting their own brand