EN:Able Build, the not-for-profit affordable housing provider recently established by Efficiency North Holdings, has negotiated its first new build housing scheme in Harworth near Doncaster.
Hawkins Close, a development of 24 affordable homes for Together Housing, one of the biggest housing associations in the North of England, with over 38,000 homes, will be built by long established Hull-headquartered contractor Hobson & Porter.
The scheme was destined to be developed as homes for private sale until EN:Able Build agreed terms with the original developer for the scheme to be redesigned and developed as exclusively affordable homes. Following successful negotiations with the original developer, Hobson & Porter and Together Housing, the deal was completed on 16th of August. Work is due to start in September and the homes will be available for families to occupy in summer 2019. In addition, apprenticeships will be created through the scheme, which will be delivered by EN:Able Futures, another subsidiary company in the Efficiency North group, specialising in employment and skills innovation.
EN:Able Build’s Head of Operations, Andy Brown commented: “Our goal is to develop at least 1,000 affordable homes that would otherwise not have been built and this deal gets us off to a fantastic start. My team worked hard to re-engineer the scheme and come up with a solution that brought the development into the affordable homes sector and we are proud to have played a key part in making it all happen”.
Efficiency North Chief Executive Lee Parkinson commented: “The EN:Able Build venture is a key part of our three-point plan to help the social housing sector, from procurement efficiencies to innovative apprenticeship schemes and social value, and now the development of affordable homes too. Our members are keen to acquire similar investments and so we will continue to work hard with individuals and organisation across Yorkshire to find and accelerate similar schemes into the future”.
Together Housing’s Head of Project Management Keith McFarlane commented: Together Housing’s Head of Project Management, Keith McFarlane, said: “According to research released by the National Housing Federation, the average home in Doncaster is over six times the mean annual salary. The average worker in the area would need a 42% pay rise to be able to afford a mortgage. So it is fantastic that this stalled site which originally planned homes for private sale will now be made available for affordable rent, providing good quality affordable homes in this neighbourhood.”
Hobson & Porter’s Managing Director Richard Hunter commented: “Working with EN:Able Build was truly collaborative as we were involved in all the key decisions from day one and that allowed us to contribute fully to the process of value engineering. This approach is a key part of our growth plans for the future and so we are delighted to be involved in the first of many ‘land led’ schemes” with EN:Able Build.”