Top 60: Joint Venture Developments of the Year
Inside Housing is showcasing the best 60 developments of the last year. Our list is split into 10 categories of excellence. Michael Atherton reports on our final category, the best joint venture developments of the year
A word from the Inside Housing editor
The crisis in housing supply across the UK has developed over several decades, and has been exacerbated by the recent collapse in small and medium enterprise builders during the last recession. The statistics over the years show that the decline began when councils stopped building in significant numbers.
There is a clear conclusion to draw: without every part of the economy firing on all cylinders, we won’t be able to keep pace with growing housing need, let alone stand a chance of plugging the historic gap.
In fact, the housing crisis is greater than any organisation or any sector of the economy.
We need new, more creative solutions - ones which bring organisations together to capitalise on their relative strengths and which allow partners to achieve more together than is possible alone.
The joint ventures highlighted in these pages do just that. They involve councils, the NHS, housing associations, developers and others coming together to truly make change happen. Between them, the joint ventures selected by our expert judges are building an impressive 6,295 much-needed homes across all tenures. And they are regenerating places and providing employment, not to mention bringing much needed revenue streams to the local authorities concerned.
The chosen schemes are the best of the best and I am pleased to congratulate them on their achievements and to share their stories.
As financial pressures bear on councils and housing associations, joint ventures will become all the more important. In the years to come, these ventures will be seen as trailblazers.
Emma Maier, editor, Inside Housing
The judges
- Dennis Seal, chair of housing hub, Buildoffsite, and director, DLS Strategic
- Neil Goldberg, planning consultant, Harnigey Council, director of town planning, Urban Community
- Elaine Elkington, director, Elaine Elkington and Associates
- Steve Douglas, partner, Altair
The judges will choose an overall winner in this category, to be announced on Friday 16 October in London
Laurieston Living, Glasgow
“The plans are ambitious.”
Steve Douglas, partner, Altair
Number of homes in development: Up to 1,000
Cost: £24.5m
The scheme: To date, 201 new social rent homes have been delivered in Laurieston. Phase 2 is due to complete late in 2015, and will deliver 69 homes for sale and 39 for mid-market rent.
An artist has been engaged to work with the community to deliver artworks across the development site. Local artists are working as mentors with local people, providing them with a skill which they will benefit from long-term. This is of particular benefit to young people who are not academically minded, but have a particular flair for art.
This was made possible by a partnership that included Glasgow City Council, New Gorbals Housing Association, the Scottish Government and Urban Union, itself a joint venture of construction firms McTaggart Construction and Robertson Group Holdings.
Northfield Village Phase 1
“An attractive, well-designed scheme, with clear thought given to amenity, space and landscaping, as well as the accommodation itself.”
Steve Douglas, partner, Altair
Number of homes in development: 154
Cost: £10.2m (phase1), £13.5m (phase 2)
The scheme: On the site of redundant health care facilities, a partnership between the NHS, housing and the council has allowed the construction of a specialised care facility for people with dementia, supported housing for people with learning disabilities and nine affordable rent homes with local connection through Wrekin Housing Trust.
Phase 2, due to complete in November, will add 80 apartments for over-55s, new housing in partnership with Stafford Women’s Refuge and community facilities such as a café, restaurant, bar, shops and occupational health accommodation.
Sheffield Housing Company
“An important contribution to the continued redevelopment of parts of Sheffield, particularly in low-value areas.”
Steve Douglas, partner, Altair
Number of homes in development: 2,300 over 15 years
Cost: £295m
The scheme: Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) is a private/public sector partnership between Sheffield City Council (SCC), Keepmoat and Great Places Housing Group, with the task of building 2,300 homes in 15 years.
To date, 199 homes have been built in some of Sheffield’s failing housing markets, where normal market-led solutions are not possible via volume house builders. The first phase is for 293 homes, 70 of which are affordable rent and the rest market sale.
Keepmoat provides development finance, SCC provides land, and Great Places provides affordable housing management, with a profit share between SCC, Keepmoat and Great Places incentivising success.
Evolution
“Regeneration on such a significant scale will make a real impact in the North East.”
Steve Douglas, partner, Altair
Number of homes in development: 2,400 over 15 years
Cost: £350m
The scheme: Evolution Gateshead is a joint venture initiative to regenerate 19 sites, building 2,400 new homes for private sale and affordable tenures. The first phase will provide 318 homes, of which 37 will be affordable rent and 18 shared ownership.
Evolution Gateshead is being driven by the Gateshead Regeneration Partnership, made up of Gateshead Council, Home Group and Galliford Try Partnerships North East. The council is using its own land assets to secure private sector financing.
The joint venture structure ensures that public and private sector partners have equal representation and authority.
243 Ealing Road
“The first designs suggest a fully integrated scheme will be achieved.”
Steve Douglas, partner, Altair
Number of homes in development: 441
Cost: Cross development spend of £110m
The scheme: 243 Ealing Road is a joint venture between Network Living and house builder Hill to build 441 homes on the side of a canal in London, on the former site of a B&Q warehouse.
These first residential homes completed in a £520m Brent Council regeneration are to act as a catalyst for future improvements. Off-plan sales allowed the partners to speed up the construction programme to meet demand 18 months ahead of schedule.
Of the tenure-blind homes, 76 are shared ownership, shared equity or Rent to Buy, 254 for outright sale, 54 homes for sale through shared ownership and 57 for affordable rent.
