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One Manchester welcomed Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to its latest development, to unveil 27 new affordable homes in the heart of Openshaw, including 15 bungalows designed specifically for those living with cognitive conditions.

Andy Burnham praised the social housing and community services provider for bringing the future of housing to Openshaw through the introduction of the development, called South Gate, which brings together a mix of different tenures for the area.

A Suffolk village community are coming together to find innovative solutions for the affordable housing crisis facing local people priced out of their communities. East Bergholt Community Land Trust  (EBCLT) has just held its second AGM and is celebrating achieving some significant milestones.

Established following a recommendation in the village Neighbourhood Plan, the EBCLT has been set up as a not-for-profit company with support from Babergh DC and EC Community Housing (formally CLT East). Following an accommodation needs survey, a community consultation and a land audit, demand has been established from those with strong local connections for affordable housing suited to young people and families as well as older people needing specially adapted homes and supported living. However, rather than just building traditional properties EBCLT is considering building more radical future-proofed smart housing that adapts to our changing needs as we age.

Edinburgh building services specialist M-Pact Group has once again led the way in community as well as workplace health and safety by installing a defibrillator at its head office in Loanhead, Midlothian.

The new Act prevents landlords from charging deposits worth over five weeks’ rent, while letting fees are banned. Charges for damages will not be allowed, unless there is ample evidence of costs produced. 

Property experts say that, while on the surface
the Tenant Fees Act seems like an extra layer of protection for tenants, it could end up costing them more money. 

Ian Narbeth, solicitor at DMH Stallard, said: “Letting agents are grappling with the Tenant Fees Act which, from 1st June, outlaws fees for referencing, check-in, inventory and check-out. 

A group of developers, contractors and housing associations have launched a new Building Safety Charter in a call to action to raise the bar for building safety.
The Early Adopters Group, established last summer following Dame Judith Hackett’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, signed the Charter during its initial unveiling in London on June 6, where it was backed by the Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP.
The Charter commits those who have signed up to put people’s safety first during the design, construction, refurbishment and occupation of residential buildings.

Putting residents at the heart of housing regeneration has resulted in overwhelming support for proposals to revamp the Brookhill Close estate in Greenwich, demonstrating the critical importance of early and continual engagement with communities.

Residents were balloted in February to ask whether or not they wanted plans to go ahead. Of the 99 eligible voters, 87% voted, with 86% in favour of regeneration.

Hyde is planning to demolish 80 homes, replacing them with 272 new flats and houses, as well as improving the layout of the estate. There will be 76 social rented homes for existing residents and London Affordable Rent homes for new tenants. There will also be 64 homes for shared ownership and a further 132 for private sale, which will help fund regeneration.

South Tyneside Housing Ventures Trust is seeking 10 empty homes to transform and bring back into use.

The independent, not-for-profit housing company has already bought and renovated more than 50 properties to be rented out as affordable homes across the Borough.

It is now seeking a further 10 properties after securing additional funding from Homes England.