Tackling Poverty & Inequalities through System Convening
- April 2024
- Lead Member Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
- Categories Climate Change & Environment, Community Wealth Building
In April 2014, PossAbilities CIC was formed and the delivery-arm of Rochdale Council’s (‘RMBC’) Adult Social Care department was ‘spun-out’ into this new independent social business. At that stage the Cherwell Centre, which provided a base from where PossAbilities provided a range of support services was leased to the organisation for a period of ten years. The rent was set at One Peppercorn.
Adjacent to the Cherwell Centre is a piece of land belonging to the Council and in 2017 PossAbilities submitted a proposal to construct accommodation for vulnerable people eligible for support from adult care. The development of the supported living units and their close proximity to the Cherwell Centre, its social lounge and it’s garden and farm facilities providing a range of community benefits.
The Council’s analysis in 2016 pointed to the need for a greater range of housing options for people with learning disabilities within the borough, so this proposal gained support and in 2017 RMBC gave approval for a community asset transfer through a new 99-year lease at a reduced market value for both the existing land and the adjacent area, along with a £1,530k loan to fund the development of the Cherwell Village apartments.
