Use of New Homes Bonus to support Use of New Homes Bonus to support

affordable housing in Leicestershire affordable housing in Leicestershire

Sharon Wiggins Ian Jones

How did LCC start out on this process?

•DCLG letter confirming New Homes Bonus (NHB) received March 2011•Leader keen to explore ways of using LCC NHB to deliver bricks and mortar on the ground•Various ideas explored•Preference for supporting delivery of rural affordable housing emerged •First LCC Cabinet report on NHB considered Sept 2011

What practical steps were taken?

•Discussion with district housing officers, registered providers and Rural Housing Enabler

• Could LCC NHB funding plus district funding help to deliver stalled schemes?

•Drew up criteria for ‘shovel ready’ schemes• Systematic appraisal of schemes required to meet

State Aid rules

Wider context for the use of NHB in meeting Leicestershire’s Rural Housing Need?

•Strong track record of rural affordable housing delivery• Leicestershire Rural Partnership (LRP) has

supported delivery of rural affordable housing over last 20 years

• Mrs Pendleton CC, former LCC Cabinet portfolio holder for rural affairs and Chair of LRP, long term champion of provision of rural affordable housing

Wider context for the use of NHB in meeting Leicestershire’s Rural Housing Need?

• Modernisation review of the Rural Housing enabling role has recently been undertaken. All rural districts are now financially contributing

• Mrs Pam Posnett CC recently taken on Chair of LRP, provision of rural affordable housing continues to be a high priority

• Building schemes on the ground creates desire for further schemes eg. Croft

Wider context for the use of NHB in meeting Leicestershire’s Rural Housing Need? (contd)

•Already good partnership working between district local authorities, Rural Housing Enabler and registered providers working in Leicestershire

•There is a will to make things happen in Leicestershire

So what has been achieved so far?

o Extra funding from LCC and district partners has enabled earlier delivery of schemes which had stalled

2011/2012Sapcote scheme 12 affordable homesBlaby DC Complete September 2012East Midlands Housing Group

Somerby scheme 7 affordable homesMelton BC Complete April 2013Nottingham Community Housing Association

Costs

Sapcote scheme 12 affordable homes

Blaby DC £100,000LCC £332,000Total scheme costs £1.607 million

Somerby scheme 7 affordable homesMelton BC £88,000LCC £188,000Total scheme costs £927,650

Sapcote site planSapcote site plan

Sapcote completed homes Sapcote completed homes

Sapcote opening ceremony Sapcote opening ceremony

Somerby, view from entrance Somerby, view from entrance

Somerby opening ceremony Somerby opening ceremony

So what has been achieved so far? (contd)

o Start on site before the end of March 2013 for the following schemes (2012/2013):

Husbands Bosworth 8 affordable homes

Tilton 6 affordable homes

Breedon 10 affordable homes

Bitteswell 2 affordable homes

Elmesthorpe 4 affordable homes

Carlton 11 affordable homes

TOTAL for 2012/2013 41 affordable homes

So what has been achieved so far? (contd)

•60 new affordable homes either completed and occupied or under construction by end of March 2013 through this approach

•Leicestershire County Council’s NHB investment of £1million has enabled total investment of £7million in the building of new homes for local people in rural communities

The story continues…

LCC NHB programme for 2013/2014 agreed by LCC Cabinet 12 June 2013

Extra Care scheme at Winchester Road, Blaby 50 units

Refurbishment and remodelling of existing sheltered housing scheme at Brooklands Gardens, Market Harborough

10 additional units

Sharnford 8 affordable homes

North Kilworth 6 affordable homes

Asfordby and Melton 10 affordable homes

84 affordable homes

• A further 84 new affordable homes and 43 refurbished affordable homes to be supported by NHB in 2013/2014

• Leicestershire County Council’s further investment of £1.8 million (£595,000 NHB plus £1.2m from Extra Care Programme) will enable total investment of over £16 million in the building of new Extra Care schemes and rural affordable homes

Looking forward to the future…

•Build on momentum and positive news• Continuing difficult economic climate with

competing priorities for NHB funding

•Development of a stronger pipeline of schemes

•Lynn Aisbett, Chief Executive of Melton Borough Council, leads the LRP rural affordable housing priority

• Rural Affordable Housing Commissioning Plan for the County, key outputs include:

• Development of Strategic County Plan• Five year rolling plan to survey all parishes

• Rural housing ‘asks and opportunities’ include:• Enabling new and innovative methods of

delivery beyond traditional rural exception site model, including mixed tenure developments

• Ageing population - Leicestershire Together and LCC

priority• Partners have valued early information that NHB

funding available for the following year• Slippage in HCA Affordable Housing Programme

Thank you

Any questions?Sharon Wiggins sharon.wiggins@leics.gov.uk 0116 305 8234

Ian Jones iej@blaby.gov.uk 0116 272 7516