L&Q explores development partnerships in the North West of England
Leading housing association and developer L&Q recently hosted an event with Greater Manchester stakeholders to explore the challenges and opportunities for delivering affordable housing at scale.
Senior L&Q colleagues collaborating with partners at the event
With the housing crisis higher than ever on the political agenda and even featuring prominently in the King’s Speech, L&Q are taking stock and seeking new, innovative ways to continue building the homes this country so desperately needs.
The registered provider is also encouraging others to interrogate their accounts and appetite for development, in a call to action to deliver housing at scale.
Housing associations delivered 78% of all affordable housing in England, and L&Q is at the forefront of this with almost 3,000 new homes delivered last year.
The event explored the role of housing associations as key delivery partners for large, ambitious housing schemes in Greater Manchester, beyond traditional S106 deals with
private developers.
Partners and guests at the Manchester event included Manchester City Council, Trafford Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Housing Providers Partnership, JV North and Homes England.
Also present were other housing associations and private developers currently delivering flagship schemes in the area.
L&Q colleagues networking with partners and event guests
One of these schemes is Victoria Riverside, part of Victoria North, delivered in partnership with Far East Consortium and Manchester City Council.
Victoria Riverside will be one of the largest developments of affordable homes in Manchester’s city centre for many years and one of the city’s most significant regeneration schemes.
It is L&Q’s first major project in Manchester city centre, as the developer consolidates its growth into strategic areas for development.
The sales launch is scheduled for later this summer and will be the first time L&Q offers shared ownership homes in Central Manchester.
An artistic impression of Victoria Riverside
Vicky Savage, Executive Group Director for Development & Sales at L&Q, said:
“As one of the largest housing associations in the country, L&Q has the capability to deliver affordable homes at scale. We have the in-house expertise and skills, and our financial acumen and size allow us to access long-term financing. We are ready to go and willing to step up to the challenge.
But we cannot do it by ourselves. We believe partnership working is critical. We have found that building, maintaining and nurturing relationships with organisations that share our values is the key to unlocking the potential of our most ambitious development projects. Working collaboratively with like-minded others means access to multiple funding sources, a wider range of in-house skills and expertise, and more diverse political support.”
Hilary Brett, Development Director at Far East Consortium, said:
“At FEC we see the value of working in partnership to deliver such ambitious schemes as Victoria Riverside, part of Victoria North and we welcome L&Q’s involvement with the scheme to support the delivery of affordable homes.
”The relationships we have built with partners throughout the years are crucial to the success of such a long-term, ambitious project. Our shared vision and the importance of investment in the area underpin everything we do.”
Another core area for L&Q is Trafford, where the housing association recently started on site with Phases three and five of Heath Farm Lane, delivered in a joint venture with Countryside, now part of Vistry.
This 70-acre brownfield land site is delivering 600 homes in Partington, including a significant number of affordable housing.
An artistic impression of Heath Farm Lane
Cllr James Wright, Executive Member for Housing and Advice at Trafford Council, added:
“In Trafford, as around the country, we have a real need for new housing and affordable options so everyone can love their home. We are committed to working with housing associations like L&Q to deliver more homes for people who live or want to live in our borough.
“Schemes like the one in Partington fall in line with our corporate priority to create a thriving economy and homes for all, and by investing in projects such as these we are ensuring that there will be suitable homes for future generations of people in Trafford.”
L&Q has recently been appointed to the Manchester Housing Providers' Partnership (MHPP), having put forward their business case for joining the existing active Manchester members, including Manchester City Council.
L&Q are pleased to be welcomed to the group, working hard to collectively improve housing choices in the city and give everyone access to a decent home.
Elsewhere, in London, L&Q is delivering one of the most ambitious developments in Europe – Barking Riverside – in partnership with the Mayor of London.
The project will create over 10,000 homes, with existing amenities and assets including five schools, two community hubs, cycling and walking routes, open spaces, play parks, and state-of-the-art recycling and waste management facilities.