Published by Blakes for more
than a quarter of a century
than a quarter of a century
Northern Counties Housing Association
NCHA - DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
Northern Counties is a large Housing Association, managing over 22,000 homes across the whole of the north of England and north Midlands. Because of this geographical diversity, we are involved in four of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders and are working with the Pathfinders to assist them in achieving transformational change.
We are one of the first associations to have achieved housing re-provision for homeowners in Clayton, east Manchester, where people affected by possible clearance have been supported in finding somewhere else to live. We have done this by working closely with the city council and the developer to achieve an end that gives people better housing conditions, and which contributes to the process of raising the quality of the neighbourhood in which these people continue to live.
Within the Elevate Pathfinder in east Lancashire, we are looking to build our skills to ensure that we can deliver what the Pathfinder, and its constituent local authorities, need to see the significant changes on the ground. This has resulted in the development of tailored equity release products that are based on the Housing Corporation's 'Homebuy' model, but which have been made more flexible to fit the local requirements.
Whilst demolition activity typically upsets residents, who often have a significant emotional investment in the area, we believe that our experience, coupled with our close liaison with the local authority, helps us to deal with people sensitively throughout this distressing time. In addition, we are working to provide homes for people to move into that are in good condition and are affordable, whatever tenure people prefer, whether for rent or sale.
As well as supporting these physical changes, we are also providing support in intervention planning in key areas. We are overseeing a masterplanning exercise in one local authority to highlight where change needs to be effected to ensure that the desired impact is achieved. Running alongside this is community consultation; it is crucial to consider the knowledge and experiences of people who live in the neighbourhoods. This ensures that the right areas are being targeted from a social perspective, as well as looking at the fabric of properties and the infrastructure of an area.
These skills are being transferred to each of the areas where we play a part in making physical change, with our key strengths being innovation, flexibility, ability to deliver and the forging of good relationships. These relationships have been fostered with local authority partners and in the communities in which we work; they are the bedrock of successful delivery on the ground.
Northern Counties prides itself on its ability to deliver change in very difficult circumstances and make a beneficial and lasting change to the neighbourhoods in which we work. We can do this by being innovative but, more importantly, by working in partnership with local authorities and with local communities.
We are one of the first associations to have achieved housing re-provision for homeowners in Clayton, east Manchester, where people affected by possible clearance have been supported in finding somewhere else to live. We have done this by working closely with the city council and the developer to achieve an end that gives people better housing conditions, and which contributes to the process of raising the quality of the neighbourhood in which these people continue to live.
Within the Elevate Pathfinder in east Lancashire, we are looking to build our skills to ensure that we can deliver what the Pathfinder, and its constituent local authorities, need to see the significant changes on the ground. This has resulted in the development of tailored equity release products that are based on the Housing Corporation's 'Homebuy' model, but which have been made more flexible to fit the local requirements.
Whilst demolition activity typically upsets residents, who often have a significant emotional investment in the area, we believe that our experience, coupled with our close liaison with the local authority, helps us to deal with people sensitively throughout this distressing time. In addition, we are working to provide homes for people to move into that are in good condition and are affordable, whatever tenure people prefer, whether for rent or sale.
As well as supporting these physical changes, we are also providing support in intervention planning in key areas. We are overseeing a masterplanning exercise in one local authority to highlight where change needs to be effected to ensure that the desired impact is achieved. Running alongside this is community consultation; it is crucial to consider the knowledge and experiences of people who live in the neighbourhoods. This ensures that the right areas are being targeted from a social perspective, as well as looking at the fabric of properties and the infrastructure of an area.
These skills are being transferred to each of the areas where we play a part in making physical change, with our key strengths being innovation, flexibility, ability to deliver and the forging of good relationships. These relationships have been fostered with local authority partners and in the communities in which we work; they are the bedrock of successful delivery on the ground.
Northern Counties prides itself on its ability to deliver change in very difficult circumstances and make a beneficial and lasting change to the neighbourhoods in which we work. We can do this by being innovative but, more importantly, by working in partnership with local authorities and with local communities.
Andrew Mackay
Director of Investment and Regeneration,
Northern Counties Housing Association
Website: www.ncha.co.uk
Copyright © 2005 Blake.