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Giant housing association launches strategic land division
Giant housing association Places for People (PfP) has launched a strategic land division to grow its long-term pipeline of sites.
The national social landlord said the new division would utilise its team’s private housebuilding background to meet its development plans and build mixed-use schemes.
The division will be led by David Ashworth, who joined PfP last year from house builder Countryside. Mr Ashworth will be supported by four regional strategic teams across the country, PfP said.
Land-led development has become a key feature of housing associations’ development programmes in recent years as it offers more control and flexibility for landlords than Section 106 sites. PfP plans to develop 5,000 new homes per year by 2028.
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Mr Ashworth said the division would work with local authorities and other parties on “medium to long-term sites over 100 units and circa 20 acres”.
One of PfP’s forthcoming large schemes is its plan for 8,500 new homes in the Gilston Garden Town extension to Harlow New Town, which secured resolution for planning permission earlier this year. The plan includes six new primary schools, healthcare facilities and employment space.
Adrian Bohr, CEO for regeneration and communities at Places for People, said the division would also focus on partnerships with ‘legacy landowners’ such as the Duchy Estate, which PfP worked with to develop the village of Poundbury in Dorset and Tornagrain in Inverness.
Mr Ashworth added: “Our strategic land team will help fulfil the group’s ambitious long-term investment and growth plans by providing a consistent supply of high-quality sustainable homes and vibrant new communities at even greater scale.
“Being able to proactively plan for the future means we can navigate the housing market more effectively to balance supply and demand, as well as ensuring our developments meet the needs of our customers now, and in the future, and are well adapted to the changing needs of our customers and wider society.”
Mr Bohr said: “The new strategic land division will secure future growth for the group and allow a more strategic approach to the delivery of homes across the UK in partnership with other key stakeholders, including landowners, Homes England, [the Scottish Government] and the UK government.
“We will build on our strong reputation for the planning and delivery of large-scale, placemaking-led, mixed-use schemes, such as East Wick and Sweetwater, to further deliver new communities”.
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