Collective ownership of housing and development – Oldham Council

• Lead Member Oldham Council
• Categories Housing

Werneth Custom Build Project

Background

In December 2013, the Council launched its Residential Development Framework (RDF), which set out how it will use its land and resources to support developers and residents to access new quality homes.

As a Co-operative Council, we want to offer residents the opportunity to collectively own and develop the type of housing that they want in their area and this project is an excellent example of a ‘Co-operative Borough’.  It allows communities to collectively own and develop the type of housing that they want in the area they want to live.  In doing so it enables economically active residents to remain in their neighbourhoods when otherwise they may move out of the area or borough.

The aim of custom and self-build is to provide ‘at cost’, bespoke, new build housing, in target areas that meets the needs of the local people.  Custom build removes the construction element from individuals and makes development simpler.

Council support for custom build and self-build opportunities are set out in the recent RDF and the scheme outlined below would be the largest such scheme in Greater Manchester.

Werneth Custom Build

Following the loss of Housing Market Renewal (HMR) funding, opportunities for residents interested in custom build were promoted in the former HMR areas, including Werneth.. Following a series of meetings, interested residents formed Community Build Werneth Ltd (CBW), who, with professional advisers, developed plans for the Werneth site.

CBW has formal legal status, is governed by a Working Agreement and will adhere to a set of Rules and Regulations.   The Members (i.e. the purchasers) have appointed relevant professional services to work up designs, secure statutory approvals, finalise budgets etc. CBW have had discussions with a contractor who will build the homes for an agreed price and will operate ‘under license’, with the land transferred to the purchaser when construction is completed.

Community Build Werneth Ltd will be responsible for developing the site. Building work should begin this summer and take around two years to complete. CBW will pay the council full market value for the land and when completed, the project will see the construction of 37 new ‘custom-built’ homes.  The project will enable CBW to create much-needed bespoke four to six bedroom detached homes on the ex-HMR site.

The future of the Werneth Custom Build

The scheme will deliver 37 detached four to six bedroom homes. It is anticipated that the development will begin in spring 2014 and take around two years to complete.

The 37 custom built homes form part of a wider plan by the council to complete the regeneration of South Werneth, which includes:

• The council selling ‘under licence’ 38 properties, which are being brought up to a high-quality standard.

• A major scheme underway with Great Places Housing Group to convert 33 empty homes into 20 new family houses. This is due for completion by March 2014.

To discuss this case study, contact Ben Hill, Principal Market Intervention Officer, at [email protected].