Attendees
Keir Duffin (Chair – deputising for Mel Sealey), Iain Masters, Richard Marsh, Patrick Rafferty, Paul Britton, David Carter, Alison Hayward, Leroy Venn, Neil Blaney, Ian Thompson, Sean Anstee, Hannah Dixon (minutes)
Apologies
Helen Bone, Ian Collinson, Roger Clotworthy, David Lang, Melanie Sealey, Sarah Jane Mackenzie-Shapland, Mathew Chetwynd, Tim Child, Zoe Lentell, David Bowcock, David Bartrum, Chris Watts, Mike Woodliff
1. BLRF Bid / Prisoners Building Homes programme Update – Keir Duffin / Paul Britton
Prisoners Building Homes Programme – Recently there was a rapid call for this
programme, it needed to be in contracts by end of March. To fulfil this, we did a condensed piece of work with Mid-Devon who were successful in securing the funding. Mid-Devon took most of the funding nationally and the Southwest received all the funding bar one project, due to clear links between housing delivery and social value. Going forward we would like to capture this learning and celebrate with partners to support further projects using the same / similar programmes.
BLRF new bidding round will likely be launched in June 2025, we’re currently
waiting for the Minister to confirm date. The scheme nationally is likely to be a
smaller pot than it has been before and will be distributed on a first come first
served basis, therefore we will have to get the bids submitted as soon as possible when it’s open. Devon is in a good position as we have a pipeline of projects and have shortlisted those which were unsuccessful in the last round:
The schemes being asked for board approval to submit for BLRF –
- Teignbridge – Sherborne House, Newton Abbot – high carbon saving, high-quality scheme
- DCC – St George’s Road – 30 affordable mixed-bed properties
- Mid Devon – 10/12 affordable homes
Therefore, a total of around 70/75 affordable/ social rented properties of different
sizes. They are all projects who bid last time and have been strengthened. - DECISION OPE Board agreed for these bids to be submitted
- DECISION: OPE Board provided retrospective support for Prisoners building homes programme submission
2. OPE Co-location Fund update / Consultant – Keir Duffin / Ian Thompson
OPE co-location bid of £150k has been successfully obtained.
Avison Young, who successfully tendered for the contract have been helping to
develop business cases within the co-location piece. The partnership has their
time until end of July.
Ian Thompson from Avison Young gave an update on the co-location activity:
- Ilfracombe – relatively high deprivation in the town, generating high demand
for public services and VCSE. There is a need for affordable housing in the
town. The One Ilfracombe Partnership has been set up to improve delivery of
public services. District Council has an affordable housing strategy for the
town. Key sites being considering – Tyrell Hospital, Police Station, Family
Centre, Devon Links Centre, Library and Former Post-Office. - ACTION: IT to make an amendment to the table re: the police station to ensure
clarity on position. - Essex County Council has a lot of similarities to Devon County Council /
County Hall, and Avison Young have done work with them – hoping that the
learning from their work can be presented to DCC. If any District/ Town
Council’s would like to be included in this discussion, please let Ian know and
the invite can be extended to those interested in attending. - With the removal of NHS England there is a lot of organisational change
happening, in 6 months’ time there will be more options available for colocation. - ACTION: Matt C to give an update on NHS estate at the next Board meeting in
July.
3. Mid-Devon Affordable Housing Programme – Richard Marsh, Director of Place, Mid Devon District Council
Mid Devon have had success with the Prisoner’s Building Homes Programme,
Large amount of BLRF funding and have developed a high number of affordable homes. Multiple awards have been obtained for the Z-pods.
Richard ran through tips to building affordable homes –
– Using HRA land, particularly old garage slides, space left over after planning
(in-fill sites) etc.
– Investing to ensure the homes are sustainable and efficient in the long-term to
keep the costs of running the homes as low as possible for the residents.
– Keep elected members up to date in Committees to try to secure political
support.
– Complete the pre-work around utilities early as there can be a long wait to get
sign off.
– Ensure the Housing Teams know the properties and estates well including
their conditions, this speeds up the process as a lot of the work is then
complete before putting in the bid.
The process for building is usually to identify sites, identify housing needs,
undertake feasibility study between our teams and z-pods, create planning
submission to understand if we have something viable, get local engagement,
application submission and process, the contract awarded, and it progresses from there.
Successes to date –
– St Andrews Place in Cullompton – multi-award winning
– Sandford
– Tiverton
– Bringing funding on board to support these through BLRF and
Prisoners Building Homes Programme – another 29 homes supported
– Created housing for care leavers through the Z-pod scheme
Mid Devon is continuing with the progress and are now moving towards larger sites (estimated around 500 more stock over 5-year span), whilst refreshing the housing strategy, supporting our housing agenda and looking to meet the recommendations of the Housing Commissioner.
The timescale between undertaking the BLRF and starting work on site/ delivering the homes was so quick that people within the central team and MHCLG were wondering if it was a mistake, the model that Mid-Devon are using is now proven to be quick and deliverable which gives the confidence to award future funding. It’s clear what the funding is being used for, why and when.
The CCA is going to speak to MHCLG about the investment pipeline for the CCA to support the ambitions we’re responsible for and to be able to understand what funding is available, this is a likely outcome from the spending review. ACTION: Sean A to update at the next meeting.
4. Any Other Business
ACTION: Add the following to the next meeting agenda:
- Comprehensive spending review update from Homes England – Natalie
- The strategic activities each partner is undertaking – All (so everyone
understands the key things for each other and to share with teams). It’s important
to involve the CCA in what already exists, so they can lobby plans/ policies
Future Meeting Dates
Wednesday 16th July 2025
Wednesday 22nd October 2025