New Cut is a fully mutual housing co-operative built in 1991. It became fully independent soon after being completed. There are 41 homes with shared facilities including a communal garden.
They were looking to develop additional units for older members on a small car park area they own, which would free up homes for new members.
How we’re helping
We supported an initial feasibility and viability study, although the co-op did not take it further.
Arcadia are looking to build affordable, inter-generational housing in East London. As a group, they met through church, and have visited other community led housing projects and attended various workshops to establish their vision and values.
They hope to have shared spaces such as a kitchen and garden where residents can socialise, in addition to their own personal living space. They are looking to incorporate provision for the elderly and/or disabled in their scheme, and work on bringing the wider community in, living out the Christian principle “love your neighbour as yourself”.
They are looking to build 5-10 submarket leasehold homes. It is anticipated individual leases will have a resale price covenant imposed through a sec 106, to protect any affordability in the homes in perpetuity
How we’re helping
We have supported Arcadia to incorporate as a Community Interest Company, think through their objects and open a bank account. Households will be directors of the company working with participatory decision making. We also helped them commission financial modelling, and prepare proposals to redevelop a church site in Tower Hamlets.
Sanford are looking to expand housing and provide community facilities on their own land.
Sanford is a fully mutual housing co-operative in South East London. Initiated by housing activists in the late sixties who lobbied government to establish more coops. In 1973, Lewisham Council agreed to hand over the derelict site on Sanford Street for a pilot project, which became the first purpose built housing co-op in the UK.
Today there are around 125 tenant-members living in 14 houses and a block of flats. Each house is occupied by between 8-10 tenants. Each member is allocated their own bedroom and shares a kitchen, living room and three toilets. There are six self-contained flats in the block which include a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom. Residents enjoy shared gardens growing organic vegetables and a system of ponds and permaculture. They also have a new bike store.
How we’re helping
Members wished to expand and provide a new community and performance space. We awarded funding for feasibility of future development. The co-op reached internal agreement over a brief, shortlisted architects, and ran a competition process in order to appoint Hayatsu Architects. Feasibility is now underway we are also advising on financial modelling.
The Drive Housing Co-operative is an 11-bedroom intentional community offering a sustainable, collectively-run way of life.
They have plans to build a new 8 bedroom building on their site, and refurbish the existing building with environmental improvements.
How we’re helping
We provided advice on becoming an RP and applying for GLA revenue funding.
Resident-led housing organisation Phoenix Community Homes, have built 8 new homes on Riverpark Gardens. The new homes are a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments and situated close to Ravensbourne station, overlooking the Ravensbourne River. They became available for shared ownership early in 2019.
Phoenix have an active pipeline of developments, including the recently completed award winning Hazelhurst Court scheme.