Report from the Full Federation Special Subject Meeting

Held on

28^th June 2006

in the

Board Room at Bull Green House

At 7pm

At the start of the meeting papers were circulated which gave a background of some of the procedures that a social landlord has to go through to acquire land and money for a project. Also on the handouts were all the sites that have been completed or are in progress or have yet to be started.

Tom started by asking what we thought a first home would cost. £90.000 is what a survey has shown for this area. There is always competition with other developers to obtain land and have plans passed for a site. He explained that through our partnering with other housing projects we have greater buying power to obtain what is needed for projects.

On each of the sites there are mixed tenure properties. Some will be bought in the normal way with a full mortgage. Those who cannot afford to buy a whole property because they don't earn enough to get a mortgage for the full asking price have the opportunity to buy a proportion of the property perhaps 50% to begin with and as their income rises they can buy another portion. Part ownership means that they will also pay some rent for the property but will have full responsibility for maintaining the home. Taking this option only buys the home and the land it is built on remains the property of the landlord. On all new sites which are developed there will be some houses available at affordable rents though the proportion is not high.

Pennine own properties which are not occupied now, like the high rise in Pellon Lane area, there are many different ideas in the pipeline on what to do with them. It may be possible to sell to a developer or perhaps they could be used into student accommodation. Nothing is decided yet about these.

Rent payers are supplementing garage sites this needs to be addressed because some of these semi derelict sites could be put too much better use.

A View day is to take place in September and any interested tenants will have an opportunity to see all the new building that has been done throughout Calderdale.