Homes West
HomesWest is a strategic partnership, consisting of four housing associations selected by the four West of England councils to be the main means of delivering affordable housing in the sub-region.
Housing Associations, also known as Registered Social Landlords, are not-for-profit organisations set up to provide affordable housing for people in housing need.
HomesWest was initially put place for a five-year period to 2009/10, a recent review recommended that this be extended for a further year and this has been agreed. In the period leading up to 2011 it is anticipated that research will be carried out to identify HomesWest's future direction.
The objectives of HomesWest are:
-
To markedly increase the supply of quality affordably housing in the sub-region developed to agreed standards
-
To increase efficiency, innovation and joint-working
-
To raise awareness of affordable housing in the South West and increase resources coming into the sub-region
-
To compete effectively in the open market
The HomesWest partners will act as lead developers either on large sites that they acquire, or on sites brought forward by private developers where affordable housing will be provided through 'planning gain' (also called Section 106 Agreements). The four local authorities will normally nominate a HomesWest partner to deliver the affordable housing on any private site of over 30 homes.
50% of the affordable housing delivered by HomesWest will be transferred to other housing associations selected as members of each Council's local partnership.
The HomesWest partners are:
Knightstone Housing Association
Contact: Richard Efford - Tel. 01934 520052
richard.efford@arcadiahousing.co.uk
www.knightstone.co.uk
Somer Housing Group
Contact: Mike Grist - Tel. 01225 366000
mike_grist@somer.org.uk
http://www.somer.org.uk/
Sarsen Housing Association
Contact: Steve Blake - Tel. 01380 720027
steve.blake@aster.org.uk
http://www.sarsen.co.uk
Sovereign Housing
James Gibson - Tel 0117 935 5773
james.gibson@sovereign.org.uk
http://www.sovereign.org.uk/