affordable housing

Agile Ageing Alliance (AAA) is a joining of innovators from across the building and housing sectors, as well as health, care, design & technology and finance advisors who have come together to produce a new way of retirement living. Neighbourhoods of the Future from the AAA is a vision which modern methods of construction (MMC) can make a reality, providing much-needed affordable homes in multi-generational developments.

Here, Ian Spero – founder of Agile Ageing Alliance – answers editor Victoria Galligan's questions on how MMC can help to solve the housing crisis.

The Kingspan TEK Building System is providing a precise offsite building solution for one of the country’s largest Passivhaus developments in Bowthorpe, Norwich.

Guy Horne, co-founder and managing director of HS Property Group, answers editor Victoria Galligan's questions on empty homes in the UK…

How many homes are empty in the UK?

According to official figures by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in March 2019 there were more than 216,000 empty homes across the UK, equating to £53.6bn of property value. This represents a 5.3% increase over the last 12 months, hitting the highest level of vacant properties since 2012.

One of the UK's largest and oldest housing associations has bought 55 affordable apartments worth nearly £17.4m. Durkan completed the sale of 55 residential units at the Britannia Music Site (BMS) in Ilford to Southern Housing Group.

Under the terms of the agreement, the apartments will be completed and transferred to Southern in September of this year.   The units are earmarked for shared ownership or for use under the London Living Rent Tenure developed by the Greater London Authority (GLA).  Following the transaction, Southern will own a total of 148 units at BMS having acquired 93 units in 2017.

Editor Victoria Galligan went along to the annual Housebuilding Forum to meet HAs, builders, architects and suppliers…

The Housebuilding Forum took place at the Slate conference hall in Warwick. As part of the university campus, the striking building – a BREEAM-certified design that boasts floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto a lake – was the ideal venue to get some of the biggest names in housebuilding together.

As well as hosting expert speakers, the organisers Stable Events line up 15-minute meetings throughout the two-day event to ensure suppliers and delegates can take the time to discuss their work and potential collaborations. The speakers and delegates ranged from across the public and private sectors, and suppliers were on hand to display innovative products and services.

A thriving residential and community development, including at least 40% affordable housing, is to be built in Warwick after council bosses signed off on plans submitted by L&Q.

The scheme on land south of Gallows Hill will be known as Beauchamp Park. It will see 450 quality homes brought to the 20.9-hectare site south of Gallows Hill and west of Europa Way (A452). L&Q, one of the UK’s leading housing associations, has a proven track record of creating thoughtful and considerate neighbourhoods. The local community and future residents will also benefit from new public open space, footpaths and cycleways, and children’s play areas.