Social housing scheme launched
A PIONEERING co-operative project has been launched in Langley, Middleton, to provide much-needed affordable social housing.
The Langley Community Benefits Society is a co-operative project launched by Kathryn Carr, secretary; Terry Smith, founder member and chairman; Coun Sue Smith, founder member and project manager; Ivy Isherwood, founder member and vice-chair; Alison Crush, from Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations (GMCVO); and Amy from Riverside housing.
The group is the first community-led housing group in the borough, working with Riverside Housing, Rochdale Borough Council and GMCVO.
They have now secured funding from Resonance, a social impact investment company to begin building the houses, of which there will be 12, available to rent at low cost for people who have a connection to Langley who are on low income.
The houses will never be for sale.
Chairman Terry Smith said: “This started three or four years ago - people
●●From left: Kathryn Carr, secretary; Terry Smith, founder member and chairman; Coun Sue Smith, founder member and project manager; Ivy Isherwood, founder member and vice-chair; Alison Crush, from GMCVO; and Amy from Riverside housing were saying how hard it was to get a council house. We started getting people together to come up with a better solution where people can apply for social housing.
“Affordable housing can cost over £100,000 and houses can cost over £500 a month to rent.
“We decided to set up a group to build our own social housing.
“Resonance have been fantastic and we’ve got to the stage now where we can start to look at a place to build these houses in Langley. They will not be on greenbelt land.”
“As I’ve always said an individual may have a vision but it only becomes a reality when you work in partnership and I would like to thank our partners for their commitment and support, including the support and help of local people.
“The recent consultation showed evidence that there is a huge demand for social housing in our community.
“Langley Community Benefits Society is made up of people who either live or have a connection with Langley.
“We have agreed that the houses will be built around the Rochdale Cleaner Air Plan and will be energy sufficient and we will put in connections for laptops and Tablets, hopefully if the grants stretch that far we would like to input WiFi too.
A spokesman for GMCVO said: “This is an exciting community housing project and demonstrates what can be achieved by people with a passion coming together to improve their neighbourhood.
“GMCVO are pleased to support the Langley Community Benefits Society and help them access project development funding from Resonance Community Development fund.”
The homes will be built in Langley. Three sites are currently under consideration.
Leader of the Council, Allen Brett, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this pioneering project which is a shining example of people coming together and benefiting their community and drive forward cooperative values. The inspiring idea has really developed through the hard work and commitment of so many people. As leader of the party and a longstanding co-op party member I welcome any idea that is rooted on the famous co-operative values of our borough.”