Thurrock awarded Housing Zone status

www.tgessex.co.uk
NEWS FROM THE THAMES GATEWAY SOUTH ESSEX STRATEGIC HOUSING GROUP
New Minister
for Thames
Gateway
Thames Gateway
has a new Minister Mark Francois, MP for
Rayleigh and Wickford
who was also appointed
as Minister of State for
Communities and Local
Government following
the May General
Election. Mark’s political
career began in local
government, when he
was elected to Basildon
District Council. He
served for three years
as the Vice-Chairman of
the Housing Committee,
during which time he
gained considerable
experience of social
housing policy. In
addition to championing
key regeneration
projects in the Thames
Gateway he will also
serve a similar role as
minister for Portsmouth
particularly in relation to
the Naval Dockyard.
Mark Francois, MP
14th
Edition
SUMMER 2015
Thurrock awarded
Housing Zone status
Grays, Thurrock
Thurrock Council was one of only 2 Local Authorities in the East of England to be
awarded housing zone status in the spring budget earlier this year. The zone focuses
on Thurrock’s Thames side towns and will deliver 2500 new homes for affordable rent
and private sale by 2020.
A ‘housing zone’ is an area of land where the government provides funding to unlock
the scheme - such as infrastructure, site acquisition and leaseholder buyouts. The
developer and local authority commit to providing a certain level of affordable and
private housing, and must meet these targets on deadline as a condition of the funding.
Providing homes should be easier and quicker to build on brownfield land.
A total of twenty Zones have been announced outside London; forming a key part of
the Government’s long term economic plan is to build the houses Britain needs so that
more families can have the security that comes with home ownership.
New housing schemes in the sub region - centre pages
2
Thurrock - Planning for the future
Thurrock Council is on target to deliver 1000 affordable homes over 5 years with the scheme at Seabrook Rise
(featured in the winter edition newsletter) advancing at a pace with completion due in November. Other schemes
either under construction or due to start this year include:
•• Derry Avenue, South Ockendon - 25 homes for older people
•• Bracelet Close, Corringham - 12 homes for families
•• St Chads, Tilbury - 128 homes for families (Gloriana - Thurrock’s housing company)
The house building programme is being developed hand in hand with a review of the Borough’s Local Development
Framework and proposal to produce a new Local Plan. Key issues emerging include a possible review of the
Green Belt, options for estate regeneration and urban extensions along with improvements in infrastructure, review
of employment sites and collapsing down of selective industrial estates to make way for additional housing and
community facilities. Key locations include Purfleet, Grays Town Centre, South Ockendon, Chafford Hundred and St
Chads in Tilbury.
Responding to the housing crisis, Director of Housing at Thurrock Council, Barbara Brownlee commented:
“I, like many of my colleagues across the country, have
been working hard to try and find ways that we as a
council can stimulate the housing market and ease the
ever-increasing pressures of people on the waiting lists whether for council or other social housing.
We face the biggest housing crisis in a generation because
for decades we have failed to build the homes we need.
The homes that are required are a complete mix of highend sale, low-cost sale, equity sale and private rented
and the vehicle the council has developed to deliver these
is, in essence, an average housebuilding company. It will
increase the number of homes that are really affordable
for local people and - this may seem strange - as soon as
it works, our scheme will be wound up!
Bracelet Close, Corringham
St Chads, Tilbury
Gloriana is the solely owned company’s name and we
intend to use it to kick-start development where the
margins are low and the private sector cannot make
housebuilding work.”
Seabrook Rise, Grays
3
SHMA Review
Turley and Edge Analytics were recently appointed
to objectively assess how much housing is needed
across the five TGSE authorities. The Further Review
of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA)
will consider the extent to which TGSE acts as an
independent self-contained housing market area, and
establish - in line with national guidance - whether
there is a significant imbalance between the supply
and demand for housing in the area. Consideration will
also be given to the relationship with London and the
implications of this connection, and will calculate the
need for affordable housing in each authority.
Specialist modelling has been undertaken to assess
how the population of TGSE may change in future
years, and identify the number of households which
are likely to form over the period to 2037. This draws
on both historic trends and future projections, and also
considers how much growth in labour force would be
required to support forecast economic growth and job
creation across the area. The findings of the SHMA
will represent an important part of the evidence base
for setting housing targets in the authorities’ emerging
Local Plans and Housing Strategies.
Stakeholder workshop
Stakeholders were given an introduction to the
project and its initial findings at a stakeholder workshop
event in March 2015. A further workshop is planned for
September ahead of finalisation of the project later in
the year.
To find out more please contact Alastair Pollock, the
Strategy Coordinator at apollock@castlepoint.gov.uk
New era for sustainable homes?
A set of new “national technical standards” replaced the Code for Sustainable
Homes as part of the Housing Standards Review published in March 2015.
The changes aims to reduce the cost and complexity of building homes in
England and stop the ‘pick and mix’ approach to housing standards by different
local authorities in England. Elements of the code will now be incorporated
into building regulations, which will be re-titled as “the new national technical
standards” and set at the equivalent of a code level 4.
£40 million to provide 400 new homes
As a significant provider of social housing in Essex and the East of London, Estuary Housing Association has
borrowed £40 million from M&G Investments (“M&G”), a leading international investment manager, in a longterm financing deal.
The 30-year private placement enables Estuary to fulfil their development ambitions of 400 homes over the
next three years. Half the homes are to be built in London boroughs and
the remainder will be in Essex. Once completed, the developments will
bring their total housing stock to around 4,500 properties by 2018.
Paul Durkin, Chief Executive, Estuary Housing Association Ltd, says:
“This deal enables us to plan to grow our business with confidence,
as the funding supports our development Programme of
over 100 new homes each year. The process of raising
funds through a private placement was new to Estuary
and we are very pleased that we have been able to raise
funds at a favorable rate that enables us to meet our
social purposes through the provision of much needed
affordable homes in areas of acute need.”
4
New Housing schemes in the sub region
Derry Avenue
Construction at the new over 55’s scheme at Derry Avenue,
South Ockendon is making good headway with completion and
handover anticipated by November 2015. The scheme provides
25 homes which conform to the HAPPI principle which can be
summarised as follows:
1. Generous / flexible space standards
2. Natural light (inc circulation spaces)
3. Avoidance of internal corridors and single aspect dwellings
for light and ventilation
4. ‘Care ready’ homes to accommodate emerging
technologies
5. Circulation that avoids institutionalisation and encourages
interaction
6. Lively multi-purpose social spaces that link with the
community
7. Engagement with the street
8. Energy efficient ‘green’ buildings
9. Adequate storage inside and outside home
10.Homezone design of outside spaces with pedestrian priority
Ken Johnson House provides
13 new apartments in London
Road, Leigh on Sea
George Kieffer, the new Chair of Estuary Housing Association officially
opened the new scheme which is proudly named after Estuary’s former Chair
who served on the Board of Management for 16 years. This is in recognition
of the tremendous contribution that Ken made to improving the lives of so
many in the community.
The fabulous apartments which are a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms have
been developed by Flush Contracting Ltd at a cost of just under £2.5 million.
The Homes and Communities Agency provided funding of £312,000 with the
balance being funded by Estuary Housing Association. Paul Durkin, Chief
Executive, commented “this is the first scheme that Flush Contracting have
built for us and we are very impressed with both quality and the co-ordination
of the construction of these apartments. The homes were successfully let
to people on Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s waiting list at affordable
rents of £115 - £184 in December 2014.
Southend-on-Sea remains one of the key growth development areas for
Estuary where we now have 1442 homes and we hope to continue to be able
to develop much needed homes in the area for local people.”
5
CHP provides homes in
Aveley
Essex housing association, CHP, has taken handover
of 22 properties in its Aveley Village development and
80 more are on the way. Working with contractors
Persimmon Homes, all of the 102 properties on the
Aveley Village development will meet the Lifetime
Homes Standard as well as a level-three rating under
the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes.
Offering homes for local people, the new development
has provided five three-bedroom houses and four, fourbedroom homes for affordable rent along with 10 one
and two-bedroom flats and three two-bedroom houses
for shared ownership.
The company - which recently celebrated its 10th development anniversary after taking handover of its first
properties in Chafford Hundred in 2005 - has delivered over 100 homes in Thurrock; a further 93 properties are under
construction while 79 are in the pipeline.
Carl Hockey, CHP Development and Regeneration manager, said: “We’ve already taken handover of over 20 highquality properties in Aveley and we’re very excited about starting the next phase of the development. Taking handover
of the properties, which will not only bring much needed affordable housing for the people in Aveley and Thurrock
in general, also helps CHP in achieving its aim of providing up to 1,300 homes throughout the county for Essex
residents by 2018.”
For more information, please contact Carl Hockey, at Carl.Hockey@chp.org.uk, Tel: 01245 613109.
Doors open to Council’s first new house since 1989
The new three bed-room house in Byron Avenue, Southend, the first one built by Southend-on-Sea Borough
Council for over 25 years was officially opened earlier in the year. The property now successfully let to tenants was
built to Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) space standards, and to Lifetime Homes specification.
Essex-based
companies;
AK
Design and Kingdom Facilities &
Construction (KFC), with partners
Every Project Counts (EPC) were
contracted to deliver the property.
The Council has identified more
Council-owned land in Shoebury
as suitable to develop for affordable
housing for Southend residents and
work is being finalised to progress
with these plans.
Executive Councillor for Housing,
Planning and Regulatory Services,
Councillor David Norman said: “We
are very pleased indeed to see this
project completed and ready for its
first tenants. It is the result of a review
of council-owned land in the borough,
as part of our commitment to provide
affordable homes for residents”.
6
Maureen’s Gift gives life-line to community groups
Two Rayleigh community groups have received a
life-line following a donation from Rochford Housing
Association’s Maureen’s Gift Fund.
Paint Box and Rayleigh Age Concern’s over 55s lunch
club have both benefitted from the funding which supports
charities, resident groups and voluntary organisations in
need of donations to help deliver community activities.
Maureen’s Gift was set up in 2011 in memory of local
community champion and former chairperson of the
Rochford Housing Association board, Maureen Vince.
Emma Keegan, managing director for Rochford
Housing Association, added: “It’s lovely to hear that the
community, and our residents, are seeing the benefits of
Karen Johnson, presenting the cheque to Rayleigh Age Concern
Maureen’s Gift funding...”
For more information, please contact Rochford Housing office, at: contactus@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.
Homelessness Sub Group - special update
A sub group of dedicated local authority officers in South Essex have been addressing the
needs of homelessness by championing a series of initiatives including:
•• An improved private sector landlord offer to address the accommodation shortage often
exasperated by some London Borough’s placing their homeless people in out of London
sub area such as South Essex. This could be linked to the option of setting up a social
letting agency in South Essex.
•• Review of Allocations Schemes including local residency criteria to ensure best use is
being made of stock to reduce homeless families in temporary accommodation.
•• Developing a Gold Standard for homelessness services protecting South Essex’s most
vulnerable when they face losing their home.
•• Promoting flexible tenancies and sharing information to facilitate this aim.
•• Actively encouraging downsizing & mutual exchanges; through for example making financial offers to encourage
clients to move.
•• The St. Mungo’s Rough Sleeper Project which now employs outreach workers in all three regions is looking to
improve provision of night shelters with the third sector.
•• Finally, refreshing local authority Homeless Prevention Strategies and Action Plans in line with new government
initiatives and local targets which are being shared across the sub-region.
Brighter Future in store for Laindon Shopping Centre
Swan Housing Group has announced that it will be bringing about the long
overdue regeneration of Laindon Shopping Centre and that its intention is to
leave a legacy for the town.
The existing public spaces are dated, of poor quality and no longer meet
the needs of the local community. The commercial facilities do not offer local
people or local retailers an attractive place to shop or work with a large number
of retail units currently standing empty, some having been so for decades.
Geoff Pearce, Swan’s Executive Director of Regeneration and Development
said: “We look forward to working with Basildon Borough Council, existing
retailers, and, critically, local people who are passionate about the regeneration
Laindon Shopping Centre
of Laindon, to finally bring Laindon the central facilities it needs”.
Swan, who have worked in the Basildon area for over two decades, is currently developing plans for the regeneration
but in the meanwhile is focusing on making immediate improvements to the shopping experience for users.
7
Estuary sponsors local cricket team
Old Southendian and Southchurch Cricket Club are being given a helping hand as
Estuary Housing Association becomes their main sponsor.
The teams play across Essex and in some of the Outer London Boroughs, where
Estuary’s 4000 homes are based so this is a great opportunity for Estuary to promote
themselves in the areas where their tenants live. One of Estuary’s key objectives is
to invest in communities and help to support the development of that community and
this is a great way to invest in a local sports club.
Paul Durkin, Chief Executive, said: “We are always pleased to be able to support
local organisations and we are delighted to be working with the Cricket Team and very
much look forward to the first year sponsorship and developing a great relationship with
the Club”.
Estuary sponsorship
Thames Gateway South Essex Housing Group
The Thames Gateway South Essex Housing Group has been using Hometrack’s Housing Intelligence System (HIS)
for more than seven years.
Alastair Pollock, Strategy Coordinator, provides members with a range of data from HIS including house prices,
rental, and affordability data to inform local authority / housing associations strategies and policy making in the wider
TGSE Housing Market Area, he commented:
“Being able to drill down to local authority ward and super output area is a particular
advantage of HIS allowing similarities and comparisons to be drawn at a local level. The
ability to look at different housing types and tenures over a range of quartiles also provides
an opportunity monitor the latest trends as they affect communities in the sub region and
make the case for affordable housing”.
For further information, please contact Alastair Pollock at apollock@castlepoint.gov.uk. Previous reports can be
viewed at: www.tgessex.co.uk/index.php/tgse_sections/housing
Estuary Housing helps families to stay in their homes
Since 2010 Estuary Housing Association has been working in partnership with Moat, the HCA lead
provider in Essex, with families across Essex under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme. The Scheme has
helped 39 families in financial hardship who were facing repossession and losing their homes. By
purchasing their homes Estuary has been able to ensure that these families can stay living in their own
homes becoming assured short-hold tenants and paying affordable rent at 80% market rent.
The cost of buying these homes and undertaking the necessary works to bring them up to Decent
Homes Standard has cost Estuary £6,834 with the HCA providing £3.5 million in funding. The scheme
came to an end on 31 March 2015.
Debbie Collins, Assistant Director of New Business and Development said “This has been a very successful
scheme for Estuary working in partnership with local authorities. We are delighted that we have been able to help
these families when they have been experiencing difficult times. Children have been able to remain in their schools
and stay close to their friends which is very important for the families involved”.
Families helped:
•• Basildon - 9 families;
•• Castle Point Council - 11 families;
•• Colchester - 8 families;
•• Maldon - 5 families;
•• Rochford - 1 family;
•• Thurrock - 5 families.
Stop press TGSE Housing Conference 2015
TGSE Housing Conference 2015 - entitled housing growth will take place on Monday 23 November at venue tbc,
further details including a programme will follow shortly.
8
Southend Energy launched
Southend now has its own energy company for the first time in over 60 years following
the launch of Southend Energy on 28 May.
A partnership between Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and OVO Energy,
Southend Energy promises to offer a fairer deal for residents and businesses with a
Southend postcode and provide competition to the larger energy companies.
It will be the first time Southend has had its own energy company since Southendon-Sea County Borough Corporation was disbanded in the late 1940s when gas and
electricity energy industries were nationalised.
Very competitively priced standing charges and fairer tariffs will be available to
residents in the Borough looking for a local alternative to their current supplier. There
will be particular benefits for the Borough’s most vulnerable customers - those who are
fuel-poor and those on pre-payment meters.
Any resident in the Borough of Southend-on-Sea can register with the new company
and opportunities might exist in the future to expand the area of coverage to all SS
postcodes and beyond.
Mr Longley, Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development
commented:
“The new scheme has got off to a great start. Importantly, it is helping people who
need it most - those who have been paying too much for their energy but have never
switched..”
For further information please visit: www.southendenergy.co.uk or call 0800 408 6711.
The
TGSE
Housing
Group
covers
the
housing market area of
Thames Gateway South
Essex and is represented
by housing strategy and
development
partners
from
the
following
organisations:
•• Basildon Borough
Council
•• Castle Point Borough
Council
•• Rochford District
Council
•• Southend-on-Sea
Borough Council
•• Thurrock Borough
Council
•• CHP
•• East Thames Group
•• Estuary HA Ltd
•• Family Mosaic
•• Genesis HA
•• Moat
•• Sanctuary Group
•• Swan Housing Group
Andy Lewis, Cllr Woodley and Director of OVO with the first resident to switch their energy tariff
For further information, please contact:
Alastair Pollock - TGSE Strategy Coordinator
c/o Castle Point Borough Council, Kiln Road,
Thundersley, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1TF
Tel: 01268 882270 apollock@castlepoint.gov.uk
www.tgessex.co.uk
Rochford
District Council
LAYOUT BY CASTLE POINT BOROUGH COUNCIL