The JR Group’s Post

More house building news in what is likely to be the biggest week of change for housing that we have seen for a long time. Angela Rayner’s initiative to develop low-quality green belt land, or ‘grey belt’, is a pragmatic approach to address the UK’s housing shortage. By focusing on underutilized areas, this policy aims to deliver 1.5 million homes over five years, with 50% designated as affordable housing. This strategy not only provides much-needed housing but also ensures the preservation of valuable green spaces. It’s a balanced solution that supports economic growth and meets community needs.

Councillors from Winchester City Council joined housing provider Abri Group to view the progress of 109 new affordable homes being built in Curdridge near Botley. Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Tod, and Cllr Chris Westwood, Cabinet Member for Housing, visited the Sherecroft Meadow development, which will include 42 homes for affordable rent and 67 homes available to buy through shared ownership. Features including solar panels and air source heat pumps are being incorporated into every home to lower their carbon footprint and reduce energy bills. Future households will also benefit from water saving devices designed to reduce water consumption to a maximum 100 litres of water per person per day. Stephen Lodge, Executive Director Development and Strategic Asset Management at Abri says: "By using our inhouse construction team to build these homes we have full control of the quality, and the incorporation of sustainable features will keep utility bills low for residents. https://lnkd.in/eBrzjXyQ #newhomes #affordablehomes #construction #sustainability #energyefficiency #watersaving #housingassociation #council #affordablerent #sharedownership #solarpv #airsourceheatpumps

🌟 Successful Presentation at Hutton Cranswick Parish Council 🌟 Last night, we had the pleasure of presenting our proposed Passive House Development for Hutton Cranswick to the Parish Council. The session was incredibly engaging, with thoughtful questions and constructive feedback from the attendees. Key topics of discussion included: ▪️ Affordable Housing: Addressing the need for accessible, sustainable homes for all. ▪️ Housing for New Families: The potential to meet the housing needs of young families in the area. ▪️ Sustainable Design: Highlighting the energy efficiency and low-carbon benefits of Passive House standards. ▪️ Pricing: Ensuring the final properties are competitively priced for the market. 🏡 One important issue raised was the plot’s location outside the current development boundaries for Hutton Cranswick - The proposed development, while outside the current village development boundary, aligns with the Government's commitment to addressing the national housing shortage by delivering high-quality, sustainable homes. With a focus on energy efficiency and environmental responsibility, this project supports the push for more housing in rural areas, ensuring communities like Hutton Cranswick can grow sustainably and attract new families. We also discussed accessibility to the village, and we’re pleased to share our commitment to working with the Highways Agency to create a new footpath and cycle path connecting the development to the village, just 130 meters away. The next steps? We’re moving forward with the pre-planning application and look forward to collaborating with stakeholders to bring this exciting project to life. A big thank you to the Parish Council and everyone who attended for their time, insights, and support. This project represents a step forward in sustainable, community-focused housing, and we’re excited for what’s to come! #SustainableLiving #PassiveHouse #HuttonCranswick #GrayArchitecturalDesign #CommunityEngagement #GreenBuilding #FutureHomes #EastYorkshire

New Year, New Homes – Exciting Developments for 2025! Earlier this year, we announced plans to deliver 184 new homes across three sites in Glasgow and the Scottish Borders in 2025, with 128 designated as affordable housing. Notably: 🏡 Howdenburn Primary School, Jedburgh: In partnership with Scottish Borders Housing Association, we're building 70 affordable homes on a 5.57-acre site, featuring two-to four-bedroom homes and green spaces. 🏙️ Toryglen, Glasgow (Phase 4): A mixed-tenure development including 58 affordable homes for Wheatley Group, plus 56 private-sale homes designed with energy-saving technologies and green features. These projects, alongside work starting on 218 affordable homes at Silverlea (Edinburgh) and Newbyres (Midlothian), reflect Cruden's ongoing commitment to tackling Scotland’s housing crisis and creating high-quality homes for communities. We look forward to an exciting 2025 and continued partnerships with affordable housing providers. Read more here: https://buff.ly/41E0DWy. #AffordableHousing #CrudenHomes #NewHomes #HousingDevelopment

“The reality is that we have to start to see affordable, public and social housing as ‘economic infrastructure ‘— just like privately funded roads, tunnels, hospitals and schools, all of which receive some form of government subsidy. Such recognition will mobilise private capital and change the dynamics so that it will become economically viable to invest in this essential type of housing.” A compelling argument. Investment in well thought out social housing, carefully considering resident experience is an investment in all of our futures.

The UK’s housing crisis needs innovative solutions, and grey belt sites may provide a way forward. These reclassified areas of the green belt offer new opportunities for housing development, particularly in regions like the Northwest and Midlands. Within the research VirginLand by Ringley identified around 7,800 potential grey belt sites that could accommodate up to 608,000 new homes. The second blog within this series explores how grey belt reclassification can unlock much-needed land for housing while balancing environmental sustainability. Read more on how grey belt sites could shape the future of UK housing: https://lnkd.in/eHf7B5Q6 #HousingCrisis #GreyBelt #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableHousing #UKHousing Steve Norman, Samuel Bedford

Could grey belt sites be a solution to the UK’s housing shortfall? Virgin Land has identified 7,800 sites that could support up to 608,000 homes. Discover how grey belt reclassification could provide sustainable housing solutions in regions where development is lagging. #HousingCrisis #GreyBeltSites #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableHousing #UKHousing

Delighted to see this report recommends community-led housing as something to be supported to become a potentially significant future strand of housing supply in the UK - as it is elsewhere in the developed world. Policy makers think that it is a zero sum gain, or worse, that investment in CLH will yield fewer homes than grants to housing associations and councils or subsidies to investors will. It's only due to the relative lack of nurturing to date in the UK that the CLH seedling is sad and wilting. But it can grow, and bring true additionality, creating homes which would not otherwise be built, on land that would otherwise lay fallow. It's unfair to expect CLH to be an overnight solution to a housing crisis that the mainstream providers have comprehensively failed to deal with over the last 40 odd years. But given a bit of time, and even a small bit of care and attention from those who wield the budgets, it can be part of a long term solution, and be a significant player in a future, more mature, sensible housing sector than we currently have.

Beulah Land Development Corp., Spiritos Properties, and HELP Development Corp. are transforming vacant lots at 340 Dixwell Ave. into a $28M, 69-unit mixed-use development. This eco-friendly project, featuring mass timber construction, includes 55 affordable units and 20 homes for individuals experiencing homelessness. Supported by NEF, a LISC affiliate, it's a step toward sustainable, inclusive housing. 🌿🏠 https://lnkd.in/dMyaFEjE

📢Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Round 5 funds in action! The City of Imperial will break ground next month on a $6.6 million community development project in a rural area of the county near West Worthington Road and Barioni Boulevard. 🏘️ The “Worthington La Luna” project will not only bring #AffordableHousing to the area but also build pedestrian-friendly transit options through the development of the bike lanes, signage, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, pedestrian crossings, and other tie-in features. #AHSC is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California Department of Housing & Community Development. AHSC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities. #CaliforniaForAll