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Background and business case

The Shipley site is one of two former fire station sites we have redeveloped for affordable housing as part of a land transfer with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The other site is Highfield Fold in Idle where another 11 family-sized homes have been release for shared ownership and Rent to Buy.

Both sites aim to encourage local homehunters onto the housing ladder and make use of two cleared sites for much needed affordable housing (regenerating brownfield sites!)

The Shipley development is adjacent to the Saltaire World Heritage Site.

Partners involved

  • Incommunities
  • Lumia Homes
  • Homes England
  • West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
  • Bradford Council
  • Jack Lunn Group of West Yorkshire

Programme Costs

Total scheme costs: £N/K

Value of Affordable Homes Programme support for scheme: £224,000

Scheme size – 22 units

11 homes at Shipley, Saltaire Road – 4 shared ownership, 3 Rent to Buy and 4 outright sale

11 homes at Highfield Fold – mix of shared ownership and Rent to Buy

Outcomes

All the properties (both sites) are let or under offer. Feedback from tenants and buyers has been very positive.

“We are delighted to have completed this high quality development which provides a nice balance of homes for rent, shared ownership and for sale. I would like to thank Homes England, Bradford Council and the Fire Service who have all played their part in making this happen. As a group we are on track to deliver over 1000 new affordable homes by 2025.”

Geraldine Howley, Incommunities’ Group Chief Executive

“I would like to commend Incommunities for their vision and hard work in bringing forward this exciting development. It is important that social housing providers, developers and councils work together to increase the supply of attractive new homes for local people keen to get on the property ladder. Looking around these new homes I’m sure they will add to the rich mix of distinctive housing in the area.”

Philip Davies MP

“This development offers a range of tenure options for local people and is an excellent example of our commitment to increasing supply in the area. The development continues Incommunities impressive track record of delivering new homes on redundant sites.”

Richard Panter, Specialist at Homes England

Future plans

The developments are part of our target to deliver over 1000 affordable homes by 2025 and 250 over next two years.  Our Asset Management strategy outlines plans to deliver another 3000 social homes from 2025 to 2040.

We are currently redeveloping a number of former housing sites in the Bradford area to deliver new family-sized affordable homes. We have also expanded our development programme to Sheffield where we are acquiring 46 homes for rent (through Section 106) in a partnership with Miller Homes. These will be managed by our social housing partners, Sadeh Lok.

Delivering more homes through joint development opportunities is a key growth strategy.