Building Communities

Making Place a Home

   Foreword

STEWART BASELEY, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, HBF

S T E W A R T B A S E L E Y , E X E C U T IV E C H A IR M A N , H B F We are proud that home builders continue to be one of the key drivers of community investment in the UK, and of the vital role that our members are playing in keeping local economies moving, by finding safe methods of continuing to build in this challenging environment.

Industry investment in tackling Covid-19 has also included members contributing directly to the nation’s efforts on the front line, such as by donating PPE to hospitals and health and social care providers.

Home builders are firm This is an important moment for the house believers that community building industry and while we reflect on the Covid-19 pandemic so far and the damage it should be at the heart of has done to our communities, we must also any development. look forward. The Government has recently announced proposals for major reforms That is why our members work closely with to the planning system and indeed, to the Local Authorities through the planning process, developer contributions system. We support the not just on the bricks and mortar of housing Government’s bold ambitions to speed up the developments, but on a whole range of benefits planning system and are keen to ensure, both in that help to create and enhance communities. the interim period, and following the reforms, that community remains at the core of what we do. From building schools and hospitals to creating parks, green spaces and leisure In our report, Building Communities: Making facilities, our members are integral to the Place a Home, we are proud to showcase some growth and investment of communities up of the best examples of developers contributing and down the country. to local communities. With this publication, we hope to shine a light on some of the great work In 2018/19, the industry contributed being done by the industry and to detail what over £7 billion towards affordable exemplary community building looks like. housing provision, infrastructure and amenity enhancements. . I am proud of our members’ continuing efforts to support the local areas in which they build . The devastating impact of Covid-19 has The industry is as energised as ever to invest shown us all the true value of community, in our communities and help our country thrive, as the country has come together to help which is crucial as we seek to rebuild following support each other through this difficult time. the devastating impacts of Covid-19.

HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION O3 Executive summary

The need to build more AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVISION The home building industry is both large In light of this report and the polling evidence, In 2018/19, home builders provided over and complex and as such, there is no single we suggest the following three policy homes is not the only £7 billion to local authorities in contributions source of data that provides comprehensive recommendations, which aim to ensure challenge facing the home for affordable housing and built 57,485 new information about the industry’s day-to-day the contributions made by developers are building industry. As well as affordable homes. investments in community assets and social used effectively and transparently for the BOOSTING EDUCATION SERVICES infrastructure. This report incorporates benefit of communities across the UK. These Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local recommendations are outlined in more detail increasing housing supply, Home builders contributed over £200 million to Government (MHCLG) statistics with sector in the conclusion of this report. However, a educational facilities. This is enough to fund the developers play an essential specific multipliers to translate amounts of summary is as follows: recruitment of 8,500 new teachers, or to supply funding into relevant outputs for different role in supporting the local textbooks for over 25,000 schools. communities where they areas, which gives a real-world picture of what RECOMMENDATIONS SUPPORTING LOCAL HEALTH PROVISION the monetary contributions of home builders build. It is important that Through tax revenue alone, £559 million was can deliver. 01. spent on improving health facilities last year. When financial contributions are made by a we raise awareness of the This is enough to fund over 6,300 new GPs, In producing this report, our research developer but not used by the relevant Local community benefits that 18.6 million GP appointments, or 151,000 hip also revealed there is a high level of Authority in the agreed timeframe, the funding arise from development, so replacement operations. misunderstanding amongst stakeholders about should be given directly to local communities DRIVING LOCAL ECONOMIES the developer contributions system. rather than returned to the developer.

that we can increase public Last year, private sector home building With this in mind, we commissioned YouGov 02. supported and sustained approximately support for building the to undertake a quantitative assessment on Local authorities should be required to 772,000 jobs and 8,400 graduate and public awareness and perceptions regarding publish an easily digestible summary of their homes we vitally need. apprenticeship positions. It also contributed developer contributions. The polling found annual reports. £3 billion in tax revenues which is enough In this report, we demonstrate that our that many are unaware of the contributions to fund over 25,000 miles of new road. members are more than just home builders, developers make to communities. Only 37% 03. they are community builders too. IMPROVING COMMUNITY FACILITIES associate a financial contribution to the Private developers and local authorities should Home builders contribute £45 million a year in community with housing developments, while adopt a public badging scheme to raise To illustrate this, the report focuses on six local community spaces. That is enough to build 73% associate developments with increased awareness around community investments. areas, supported by a range of case studies approximately 400 football or rugby pitches, or pressure on facilities. It also found that the where developers have played an important 50 new sports halls. public overwhelmingly support changing the Throughout the remainder of this report, we role in delivering real-world community benefits: ENHANCING GREEN SPACES way unspent developer contributions are used, seek to show the excellent work of community with almost three quarters supporting unspent builders and demonstrate the need for the Home builders invested over £74 million in contributions being given to the local area, and recommended changes listed above. creating green spaces last year. This is enough only 2% supporting the status quo of returning to plant 8.65 million trees. unspent contributions to developers.

04 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME 05 Building communities: The challenge J U S T S O M E O F T H E T A L E N T E D H O M E B U IL D IN G W O R K F O R C E H E L P IN G T O B U IL D L O C A L C O M M U N IT IE S Despite these challenges, we enter this difficult ever that the industry focuses on delivering period with optimism about what the industry some of the wider benefits that can come from can deliver. Significant progress has been development. made year on year since 2012/13, when the number of new homes completed dropped to The central challenge for our members the lowest level since the Second World War. therefore is maintaining a dual focus, In fact, housing supply has increased by an on quantity and quality, on homes and unprecedented 93% in six years, the highest communities. The home building industry’s level in more than a generation. ability to rise to this challenge has meant that not only is housing supply going up The most recent figures show that 241,340 considerably year on year, but community net additions to the country’s housing stock investment is too. were made in 2018/19, meaning the industry has now achieved the Government’s target of However, we strive to go further. We recently delivering one million new homes between published our 2020s vision for the home 2015-2020. We are now building more homes building industry, a strategy for the next than before the financial crash of 2008, and decade and beyond, which sets out how the more than the average achieved during the industry can continue to grow, while promoting 1950s and 1960s. environmental and social responsibility, and developing communities. However, increasing housing supply is not the only challenge facing the industry. But as well as looking to the future, it is While responding to the immense pressure important that we raise awareness of the to build more high quality, environmentally excellent work our members have already The need for this country The devastating economic friendly homes, developers also need to be done in rising to the challenge of increasing focussed on placemaking, creating thriving housing supply, while also delivering for the to build more homes is impacts of Covid-19 communities and establishing green and clean communities they serve. clear. Despite the huge is compounding these spaces. Communities are hurting as a result increase in housing supply challenges, and it is now of Covid-19, and it is more important than achieved over the past clearer than ever that six years, it will take many continued and accelerated more years of significant home building will need to delivery to address a be central to the country’s housing crisis caused by recovery. decades of undersupply.

06 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 07 Helping to deliver affordable homes

Homes are also deliberately designed to ensure Whilst the UK is facing a they are well integrated with the neighbouring IN 2018-19, HOME BUILDERS BUILT 57,485 NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES. NEARLY housing supply crisis, there market housing and indistinguishable in design HALF (49%) OF ALL AFFORDABLE HOMES DELIVERED WERE FUNDED THROUGH is also a clear affordability terms. SECTION 106 AGREEMENTS. HOME BUILDERS HAVE PROVIDED OVER £7 BILLION issue. Affordable housing The following examples demonstrate how home TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CONTRIBUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. builders are helping to provide the affordable is essential to help housing that the UK needs. everyone access a quality AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN home that meets their THE SOUTH WEST needs and circumstances. In 2015, Persimmon Homes secured In addition, affordable housing not only outline for a mixed-use promotes integration within communities, development in Salisbury, including 1,250 new , it also has a significant impact on productivity homes, 40% of which will be affordable. This 57485 and economic growth. equates to 500 new affordable homes being New affordable homes delivered overall. Home builders are not only building new affordable homes each year, they also These homes will have a significant impact in contribute financially to provide affordable terms of addressing affordable housing needs housing schemes across the country. in the local area. The mix of affordable housing was carefully developed and agreed with the Home builders ensure that the housing is local authority housing officer to ensure the carefully developed and agreed with local provision met local need. 49% authorities, so the provision meets local needs. Funded through Section 106 agreements

Home builders have provided over A F F O R D A B L E H O U S IN G , S A L IS B U R Y £7 billion to local authorities in contributions for affordable housing

08 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 09 S T B R E W A R D , H O M E S F O R C O R N W A L L D E V E L O P M E N T

additional affordable homes beyond As a family-run business, it policy requirements. This is a major is really important to us that achievement for an area which suffers our developments help to sustain from significant income deprivation. “and enrich the communities in which we are building. We are delighted But the benefits of our partnership that The Westwoods has directly extend beyond new homes – our supported not only Northleach Primary onsite Skills Academies have created School and the development of local opportunities for local people to facilities for families, but also offered gain work experience and vocational crucial affordable housing to help the qualifications that have helped many community grow and thrive. people into employment. LUKE FREEMAN STEPHEN TEAGLE Joint Chief Executive, MF Freeman Chief Executive, Vistry Partnerships

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BEAM PARK, EAST LONDON Further contributions to affordable housing programme for Cornwall through a partnership WESTWOODS AND WESTCOMBE PLACE are also being made in Bishops Cleeve, with the Cornwall County Council, housing London has been significantly impacted by Gloucestershire. Persimmon Homes purchased association LiveWest, and Vistry Partnerships. At Westwoods and Westcombe Place, issues of housing affordability, and in order the Cleevelands site in 2014, and includes Eight sites were identified as development a development located on the fringe of to continue to grow and thrive as a city, it is the development of up to 550 homes. The priorities by the Council, with the aim of the ancient market town of Northleach, essential that sufficient affordable homes keep site covers approximately 55 hectares and is addressing the undersupply of affordable Gloucestershire, Freeman Homes have being built in the capital. Home builders take located on the North Western fringe of Bishops housing and realising the value of public land developed 40 homes, 50% of which the challenge of delivering for London very Cleeve, around 800m from the village centre. by building homes for open market sale in are affordable. seriously and are proud of recent schemes that higher value locations. champion affordable housing. The Cleevelands development provides 40% The Westwoods is made up of 35 three and affordable housing, which equates to 208 Responding directly to these variations in four bedroom homes, which are accessible Countryside and L&Q, one of the UK’s leading new affordable homes on site. These homes local needs, Cornwall Land Initiative planned from a central road to the development, housing associations, is delivering the 3,000 are being delivered in partnership with a local to deliver 55% affordable housing across the while Westcombe Place comprises five larger home Beam Park regeneration site in East registered provider and the tenure split between eight identified sites, providing an additional 92 dwellings located to the rear of the site, with London. 1,513 (50%) of these homes will 50% social rent and 50% shared ownership. affordable homes beyond policy requirements. access from a private drive, and with far- be affordable. The first phase of the The local housing needs assessment also reaching views of the Cotswold countryside. development, delivering 640 of these new Delivery on both of these schemes is well identified greater demand for social and homes, will be complete in 2022, with the underway. 155 affordable homes are now affordable rented tenures, so the partnership Freeman Homes have worked to integrate the rest of the development set to be built in stages built in Salisbury, and 70% of the affordable will deliver 65% affordable and social rented development into the community and through until 2030. homes in Cleevelands have been completed homes across the eight sites with the remaining supporting the facilities available in the town, as well. 45% delivered as shared ownership, all they have helped Northleach to continue to be a These high levels of affordable housing are managed by LiveWest. sustainable place to live. being delivered in addition to, not instead CORNWALL LAND INITIATIVE of, significant community investment, which They have also taken a keen interest in the includes delivering the Beam Park Railway As a popular holiday destination, where there Our innovative 50/50 Northleach community, sponsoring the local fair Station, medical centre, and primary school. are a large number of second homes purchased partnership with LiveWest has and music festival, which are major drivers of 44% of the development has been allocated for by people from outside the area, house prices in allowed us to provide a significant the local economy. Financial contributions into publicly accessible green space, which includes Cornwall remain high relative to local incomes. “number of affordable homes in many the area include remodelling and upgrading the a three-hectare park in the centre The average house price (£225,000) is nine communities throughout Cornwall. Northleach Church of England Primary School, of the scheme.

times higher than the average salary of less increasing its overall capacity as a result. By working with Cornwall County than £25,000, pricing many local people out of Council and understanding its housing the market. A total community contribution of £47,058 objectives, we have been able to was made into Northleach overall through provide 55% affordable homes across In May 2015, Cornwall Council launched the this development. the eight sites we are working on – 92 Cornwall Land Initiative, an innovative housing

10 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 11 Boosting local education services Housing and educational GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL’S ‘LIBRARY BUS’ IN 2018/19, HOME BUILDERS CONTRIBUTED OVER £200 MILLION TO facilities are essential EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. THIS IS ENOUGH TO FUND: bedrocks of every Grove Primary School’s ‘Library Bus’ in Consett, County Durham, is one example of a home community. The relationship builder helping to improve an existing school between them is also by focusing on one area to make a difference. In intrinsically linked, with this case, that area was literacy. additional school places Story Homes provided funding to convert a double-decker bus into a library and reading required in areas of space. The ‘Library Bus’ was inspired by significant housing growth. another school that had successfully been running a library bus project for three years, in Consequently, when it comes order to provide a creative and exciting new to giving back to the local place for children to read.

areas they serve, investing This is part of Story Homes’ Future Story in and supporting education scheme, which helps charities and community organisations that surround the developments provision is an obvious they work on. The Woodlands scheme at route for many developers. Shotley Bridge, County Durham features 240 homes. While this support may take the form of a brand new school, this is not the only way home builders are making a difference. Developers We are always looking into new are also improving and expanding existing and exciting ways of engaging 8,500 facilities and enabling the implementation of children in their academic subjects. We new and innovative initiatives. visited a school with an existing library New teachers “ bus project, and the difference it has This section highlights just some examples had on reading throughout the school of home builders giving significant support to is phenomenal. This is why we want the educational facilities as part of the communities same for our pupils at The Grove. they build, ranging from pioneering schemes We are so thankful to Story Homes for delivered by small builders, to significant their donation towards our own library financial contributions from larger developers. bus. Without such generosity, our

Textbooks for project would not have been able to go

ahead. This money will help us change S T O R Y H O M E S L IB R A R Y B U S the lives of our children through reading. 25,000 WILLIAM GRAY schools Year 1 teacher at The Grove Primary School and coordinator of the project

12 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 13 B O O R L E Y P A R K P R IM A R Y S C H O O L

Investing in the areas in which Bovis’ Whiteley Meadows site in Hampshire we build is one of our most has been selected to be the base for one of prominent responsibilities and we’re these hubs. Apprentices will receive onsite “thrilled to offer our support wherever training with courses ranging from one to we can. four weeks, with 619 jobs set to be created

during . Showing a financial commitment to local communities is a significant Bovis Homes will internally appoint part of the planning of a new homes Construction Ambassadors to attract entrants development, through contributions through a series of employment-opportunity to education and health amenities events backed up by a local radio campaign. being amongst the priorities.

CHRIS SOUTHGATE Managing Director at Barratt Homes It is vital that we play our part North Midlands in helping tackle the skills shortage in the housebuilding “industry, which is why we’re delighted to host a hub at our live construction BOORLEY PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL A £5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION SKILLS FUND site at Whiteley Meadows. EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES Our trainees will learn in a real-world The delivery of a brand-new primary school A number of home builders have combined construction environment and gain has been the jewel in the crown of community As important as it is for home builders to assist to take part in the Government’s Construction the practical skills they need to secure investment by home builders in Boorley Green, in specific projects, such as a library bus or local Skills Fund project, including Bovis Homes. a rewarding career in construction. Hampshire. Boorley Park Primary School school, in some cases the most effective way The Construction Skills Fund supports the opened in September 2019 and students have to help a community is through the provision of development of on-site training hubs, which DAVID EVANS

settled in well to their new environment. funding to local authorities which can be used are used to help train individuals who are Project Director for Bovis Homes’ S T U D E N T S A T T H E C O R N E R S T O N E C H U R C H O F E N G L A N D P R IM A R Y S C H O O L B U R IE D A T IM E C A P S U L E T O M A R K T H E L A U N C H in a variety of ways. long-term unemployed and people who are Southern Counties region Boorley Green is the home of the Boorley Park looking to make a career change into the Development, which is being brought forward £5 million worth of investment in educational construction industry. by a consortium of developers consisting of amenities has been made at three sites by Linden Homes, Bovis Homes - part of the housing developer David Wilson (part of newly-formed and . ), including over 1,400 new homes are being built in total, £3 million in the area surrounding the including 420 new affordable homes for the new development at Newbury racecourse. area. £7 million of investment has been made Other examples from David Wilson include in educational facilities alone around the site the Grange View Development in Hugglescote, and all of the developers have a strong ongoing Leicestershire, where £1,045,354 is being relationship with the new school. spent, and the smaller development in Olney Road, Buckinghamshire where £831,400 is More broadly, Section 106 agreements have being spent. totalled £11 million for the development, and include contributions to highways and Recently, David Wilson has worked with the healthcare provision. The development will onsite Rocking Horse Nursery for World Book also create a range of retail units including Day and with nearby school, St Gabriel’s, for a multipurpose community building, leisure its bespoke Building Buddies scheme. Building facilities and additional green and open spaces. Buddies was established to teach and excite children about the construction industry. Tasks £1 million has been allocated separately are set for school children to help them learn towards ecological mitigation from the about building sites and safety, and participants development, including investments in the are given the added bonus of a site visit and nearby Manor Farm Country Park. awards for exceptional entrants.

14 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 15 Supporting local health provision Critical to ensuring a HASTINGS HOUSE MEDICAL PRACTICE

THERE IS NO CENTRAL DATA RECORDED BY MHCLG WHICH SETS OUT THE thriving and prosperous Hastings House Medical Practice, on the CONTRIBUTION HOME BUILDERS MAKE IN SUPPORTING LOCAL HEALTH community is the health and edge of Wellesbourne in Warwickshire was, PROVISION. HOWEVER, PURELY THROUGH TAX REVENUE RAISED BY wellbeing of its residents. until recently, in a very dire state. The building HOME BUILDERS, £559 MILLION HAS GONE IN TO SUPPORTING HEALTH was beyond repair and a highly constrained However, health outcomes site reduced its capacity to function well for IN 2019. THIS IS ENOUGH TO FUND: are, in part, dependent the community. on the health provision However, support from the home building industry helped to rectify the situation, with available to local people. Persimmon Homes financing a planning application for a new and improved surgery. Home builders play an important role in helping The developer also supported the surgery’s 18.6 to bolster health facilities, often in areas where funding application to the NHS. they are most needed, or where existing facilities require improvement, helping to The practice opened in 2019 and has ten million prevent health inequalities across communities. GPs, six nurses, 16 clinical consulting rooms, GP Appointments and a minor operation and treatment suite, They have also shown themselves to be together with additional services such as a highly adaptable and quick to respond for pharmacy, physiotherapist, podiatrist, health their communities in a crisis. Throughout the visitors and other complementary therapies Covid-19 pandemic, home builders big and that will be delivered in addition to the small have been contributing to the front line standard GP services. by supplying PPE, donating funds and creating 6,300 new spaces where people can be treated safely. New GPs H A S T IN G S H O U S E M E D IC A L P R A C T IC E 150,000 Hip replacement operations

16 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 17 Persimmon entered into an agreement with DERIAN HOUSE HOSPICE THE HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY SUPPORTS short notice. One example of this is Russell landowners and Hastings House Medical THE FIGHT BACK AGAINST COVID-19 Armer Homes, who built a 62-bay coronavirus Practice to deliver a package of benefits to the Derian House in Chorley, Lancashire, specialises recovery centre in Kendal Leisure Centre in just community in conjunction with a planning in children’s palliative and respite care, and Communities up and down the country have three days, following an urgent call for help from application for 350 houses on the edge of this provides support for their families. The been deeply impacted by Covid-19. As well as the local South Lakeland District Council and Warwickshire village. A contribution of £5,000 hospice has been providing its vital services the devastating loss of life, the pandemic has the NHS. per house was made towards financing the for 25 years. However, Derian House has, damaged local economies, forced businesses to construction of the new surgery, which came to until recently, had to rely almost exclusively on close, and rendered many community facilities While these examples are noteworthy, they £1.75 million in total. their own efforts to raise sufficient funding and unusable. barely scratch the surface in terms of the true attract donors. scale of work home builders have dedicated This is an example of different sectors working Home builders have stood steadfast behind to the fightback against Covid-19. Supporting closely together in order to deliver for the local Small developer Story Homes contributed to the communities they serve during this time communities must be at the heart of the UK’s community. Persimmon worked with both the the children’s hospice through their Future of crisis, and in particular, have joined forces pandemic response, and the whole industry is medical practice and the Parish Council to help Story funding. They supplied bedding and to support what is perhaps the country’s most proud to have been able to contribute to this generate community support for the project equipment following the refurbishment of valuable asset: the NHS. effort. and the resulting surgery serves patients in 14 rooms across Derian House and Wellesbourne and beyond, stretching to a Derian Lodge. In the early stages of the pandemic, Barratt number of surrounding villages. Homes donated thousands of high specification In these unprecedented and face masks (ordinarily used to protect builders) difficult times it is fantastic This investment was delivered on top of a The care and support offered to doctors and nurses on the front line. Similarly, to see our industry stepping Community Infrastructure Levy package of by Derian House to patients have donated to the East Anglian “forward in this way. I would urge all benefits secured as part of the planning consent and their families is truly priceless and Air Ambulance in order to ensure they are able housebuilders to do all they can to for the project. we are delighted to be able to offer to source PPE for their doctors and critical help the people who are working so “ hard in our health service to save lives. our support by making the donation care paramedics. This is in addition to offering through our Future Story funding to discounts to NHS workers buying new homes, STEWART BASELEY This is a project we had been provide much needed bedding in their as a signal of support and gratitude for those Executive Chairman, talking to the NHS and the refurbished bedrooms. on the front line. Home Builders Federation estate about for some time. However, We are committed to supporting the it was bringing Persimmon into the HBF has helped to co-ordinate a number of our “ communities in which we work and project to provide their expertise and members in delivering equipment to specific build our new homes, and I really much needed funding support which hospitals, through the new campaign PPE4NHS. encourage any charities and groups brought it to life. This collaboration Members big and small came forward to offer looking for funding to apply to the enabled us to achieve our dream for their support. , Westerman Homes, Future Story fund for their chance to the whole community of a brand-new Orion Homes, , Persimmon and receive sponsorship for their state of the art medical facility in the Cala Homes are just a few of the home builders own cause. centre of the village. who used the scheme to deliver direct support DAVID O’REILLY to local hospitals. DR MARTIN READ-JONES Land and Planning Director, Lead Partner on the project, North West, Story Homes As well as these efforts, the construction Hastings House Medical Practice industry has also played an important role in providing new health infrastructure at very

18 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 19 Supporting the local economy

The significant contribution The industry generated more than £2.8 billion for local authorities through council THE INDUSTRY GENERATED MORE THAN £2.8 BILLION FOR LOCAL that home builders make tax revenues in 2018/19 – enough to fund AUTHORITIES THROUGH COUNCIL TAX REVENUES IN 2018/19 – ENOUGH to the UK economy is 800,000 new bus stops or fill more than 53 million potholes throughout the country. TO FUND 800,000 NEW BUS STOPS OR FILL MORE THAN 53 MILLION well-documented. In POTHOLES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. 2018/2019, home building CHARTERS GATE, CASTLE DONINGTON by the private sector has Beyond their wealth-generating activity, supported and sustained home builders make important investments in vital infrastructure that helps to improve the approximately 772,000 resilience and productivity of local economies. jobs and 8,400 graduate As part of the Charters Gate development in The industry generated more than and apprenticeship Castle Donington, Leicestershire, Miller Homes positions. It has also invested more than £3 million in 2018 into the local community to facilitate the construction contributed over £3 billion of a new relief road that will drastically reduce 2.8 billion to public finances through traffic through the village. tax revenues – enough to Delivered by a consortium, which includes fund over 25,000 miles of Miller Homes, Clowes Developments, and Redrow Homes, the road will connect key new road. local communities and provide access to new residential and employment areas. Enough to fund However, it is important to recognise that the industry has a significant impact on economic The Charters Gate development comprises of performance at a local level too. around 900 dwellings and is expected to help 800,000 meet the needs of future employees of the East new bus stops The sector creates economic value through Midlands Gateway, a huge ‘inland port’ that new residents as they spend money on goods is being built close to East Midlands Airport, and services in the local economy. This helps which will cover 700 acres and employ more to enhance ‘place competitiveness’ and local than 7,000 workers. economic development by improving the perceived competitiveness of specific locations C H A R T E R S G A T E , M IL L E R H O M E S B U IL D E R S and reducing the costs of mitigating social and environmental problems associated with poor Or fill more than or insufficient housing. Continuing to build and invest in communities will be crucial in helping local economies revive as the country emerges 53 million from lockdown and people begin spending potholes throughout the country again on their local highstreets.

20 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 21 T H E B O U R T O N S C O M M U N IT Y H A L L

The completion of The Bourtons Community Hall is a huge milestone for the Parish “Council and the villages of Great Bourton and Little Bourton. It is wonderful to see the landowners Graham and Jennifer Townsend’s original vision of a 21st Century community hall come to fruition, and we thank them for their generosity. Our community is very active and in much need of a purpose-built facility that can be used for a whole host of meetings, family play activities, exercise, craft and hobby sessions, as well as public and private hire events. We are very pleased with the end result and would like to thank the team at Hayfield for working alongside us to deliver this project. SALLY LESZCZYNSKI Chairman, The Bourtons Parish Council

HAYFIELD VIEWS, OXFORDSHIRE Hayfield Housing spent £400,000 to construct The Bourtons Community Hall, Hayfield Views is a development comprising 43 which is in excess of the estimated Section family homes constructed by Hayfield Housing. 106 contribution. It was handed over in 2019 and is currently being used alongside the As part of the development, Hayfield built a Parish Council’s original building, which was new Community Hall, with a spectacular high previously a Methodist chapel, dating back to vaulted ceiling, purpose-built bar, an expansive 1932. Hayfield is also paying the Parish Council fully equipped catering kitchen, toilet facilities a total of £10,000 towards the initial set-up and a meeting room. The new hall benefits and running costs of the Hall. from a landscaped garden area and has its own car park which is accessed via a dedicated driveway.

22 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 23 Contributing to better community facilities Community facilities sit at The new mosque was designed in close consultation with the local Muslim community, HOME BUILDERS CONTRIBUTE £45 MILLION A YEAR IN LOCAL the heart of local areas and and now has a congregation of around 600 COMMUNITY SPACES. THAT IS ENOUGH TO BUILD APPROXIMATELY can enhance the lives of that welcomes visitors from around the world.

400 FOOTBALL OR RUGBY PITCHES, OR 50 NEW SPORTS HALLS. residents in numerous ways. Sports clubs encourage It has been a vision of our community to have a purpose health, fitness and the built Mosque since the establishment development of new skills, “of the Burdett Bangladeshi Cultural Association (BBCA) in 1982. The while libraries, community Mosque is not just a place of worship centres and places of but a beacon for the entire community Home builders contribute worship open doors to the irrespective of faith and background. expansion of knowledge, MOHUB ALI, £45 million Secretary, BBCA & Mosque a year in local community spaces ideas and culture.

A strong sense of community can also help to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour and combat loneliness in older generations.

BOW GARDEN SQUARE

In 2015, work began on regenerating part of the Burdett Estate to develop the new Bow 400 Garden Square in East London. Rugby or football pitches This is being delivered in partnership by two organisations: Housing Association Poplar HARCA and developer , both of whom have a strong community focus.

The regeneration includes the creation of a number of community assets, such as a new local school, St Paul’s Way Foundation, a S T P A U L ’S W A Y F O U N D A T IO N S C H O O L multi-use games area, a new community centre 50 and a mosque. Sports halls

24 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 25 B R O U G H T O N A S T L E Y L E IS U R E C E N T R E

The pasture is used as a ‘chill-out zone’ for the eight horses at the centre, so they can socialise, recover from injuries, graze and learn to become equine therapy horses, which are effective at providing companionship and treatment for a range of mental and physical conditions.

But as well as being a good space for the horses to recover, the centre also runs free programmes for veterans, the disabled and troubled young adults to help build confidence and educate them in animal welfare.

We could never have transformed this area ourselves and couldn’t have afforded “to pay for it due to our charity status, so the help of Story Homes and Story Contacting has been hugely beneficial to us. We can’t thank them enough. SARAH DAVIES, Charity Guardian, Carlisle Racehorse Rescue Centre

BENTHAM GREEN

A redundant factory site in Gloucestershire has recently been transformed into a new development, which completed in the summer of 2019 and is already fully occupied. BROUGHTON ASTLEY The community offering includes a new Aldi A NEW PASTURE FOR RESCUED RACEHORSES supermarket, a site for a medical centre, and a The Bentham Green development consists of A housing developer provided for this large sports centre, which will feature a four-court Home builders often work in partnership with 20 affordable homes (over 40% affordable Leicestershire village by ensuring it had main hall, gym, community meeting spaces, and local charities in order to deliver benefits for housing). The developer, Lioncourt Homes, access to community facilities that could two full size floodlit football pitches. local communities. Story Homes and sister has also invested considerably in community adequately support the area’s substantial company Story Contracting have together benefits, such as giving £120,000 towards the housing delivery. Broughton Astley has a This has been a great success and has led to an helped Carlisle’s Racehorse Rescue Centre to refurbishment and extension of the Bentham population of around 9,000 but its community improvement in local infrastructure. The quality create a new pasture for its animals. and Witcombe Village Hall and play area, and and retail facilities have not kept pace with of this development is demonstrated by the £245,000 towards improving the nearby the extensive housing development which fact that 89% of the local community voted in The companies supplied and delivered 140 Church and High School. occurred during the 1980s and 1990s. Jelson favour of it proceeding in a local ballot. tonnes of top soil before levelling off the area Homes sought to tackle this issue by ensuring which had been previously ruined by flooding. On top of this, £80,000 has been spent on a that its new development of 320 homes was This was achieved by early engagement The soil had been brought to the site from new bus which will operate on the nearest local accompanied by community investment and to understand the community’s needs and Aspen Grange, a housing development being bus route, stopping in Bentham Green in the a substantial offering for local people. aspirations, demonstrating the value of built by Story Homes in Carlisle, with Story morning and afternoon peak hours. This is a open dialogue between developers and the Contracting undertaking the groundworks. crucial investment to ensure that the community communities in which they operate. has good links to the surrounding area and will help fuel the local economy.

26 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 27 G R E A T W E S T E R N P A R K C O M M U N IT Y C E N T R E

MARLEIGH: The opportunity to meet players A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD IN CAMBRIDGE from Cambridge United Football Club, (and to challenge them to a game of Marleigh is a brand-new neighbourhood being table footbal!) created on Newmarket road in Cambridge, which will consist of 1,300 homes of a range Art sessions for children including of sizes, including one, two, three, four, and a session run by a sculptor and artist, five-bedroom houses. helping children depict their ideas for the community A host of community benefits will be delivered as part of the neighbourhood, including a Exercise sessions including yoga primary school, sports pitches, community and pilates centre, market square, green open spaces and public parks. A workshop with a local florist where participants were able to make their To celebrate the recent launch of the first phase own bouquets of the new development, a fortnight of pop-up events and workshops were organised for the Wine tasting for the adults, courtesy local community, providing entertainment as of Cambridge Wine School well as promotion for local businesses. These ran from 20 February 2020 until The development is being built by Hill Marshall, 5 March 2020 and included: which is a joint venture between private developer The Hill Group, and aviation and engineering company Marshall. The first phase includes 150 homes and is just the beginning for what promises to be an exciting new community. GREAT WESTERN PARK, DIDCOT and running, but after this initial injection of life, residents have taken the lead, and have made Great Western Park is a new town on the the area what it is today. eastern edge of Didcot. While it did not exist 10 years ago it is now well established and thriving. All of this together has allowed Great Western 3,300 homes are being built in total, with the Park to transform from an unusable area to a vast majority of these (2,229) being brought thriving community. forward by home builder Taylor Wimpey. As part of the development, Taylor Wimpey has invested over £55million in transport, schools, People really fight for the P L A Y E R S F R O M C A M B R ID G E U N IT E D F O O T B A L L C L U B V IS IT M A R L E IG H and other community facilities. community. People really want to make sure that it’s a safe place to After the first residents moved in at the end of “live, and they take ownership of where 2011, there has been a steady flow of grand they are. They are tackling things openings in the area. This started with the together: the schools, the Residents’ opening of the development’s first play area Association, local councillors and in the summer of 2012, and now includes a ourselves alongside them - we remain school, community centre, convenience shop, part of this community. night bus service and pub, among many other community assets. REBECCA BOWKER, , Taylor Wimpey The bricks, mortar, and considerable community Oxfordshire investment helped to get Great Western Park up

28 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 29 Enhancing green spaces Green spaces play an places where people can come together and areas that are central to residents’ conception HOME BUILDERS INVESTED OVER £74 MILLION IN CREATING GREEN important role in building of the liveability of their towns and cities. SPACES LAST YEAR. THIS IS ENOUGH TO PLANT 8.6 MILLION TREES. great communities. Within GREEN SPACES AT CHEVIN PARK, YORKSHIRE housing developments, green spaces generate Chevin Park Clock Tower is located on the edge of Rombalds Moor, Yorkshire, an outstanding opportunities for local example of Vickers Edwards architecture. residents to undertake The development of this former hospital, which began in 2006, is part of a multi-year recreational activities, regeneration project. Surrounded by over 200 contributing to improved acres of parkland, the green spaces include Home builders have invested over landscaped lawns, communal gardens, and physical health, fitness, rolling fields, interwoven with bridleways and £74 million mental health and cycle paths. wellbeing. As well as the restoration of the Clock Tower, Avant Homes has planted over 10,000 trees But they are more than assets with public health across the 200 acres of landscaped park and benefits. Green public spaces are symbols of established woodland. a community’s vitality and character. They are

Enough to plant 8.6 million C H E V IN P A R K C L O C K T O W E R trees

30 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 31 B R O A D O A K S P A R K D E V E L O P M E N T

In addition to the new green spaces, Avant BROADOAKS PARK total site – not including private gardens. We are absolutely delighted Homes has also undertaken the creation of The site contains beautiful listed buildings to have received approval new sporting and leisure opportunities for the Broadoaks Park in West Byfleet, Surrey, but, as it was previously owned by the Ministry from Woking Borough Council for our local community, including building two full-size is a development which is providing a of Defence, there was no public access to view revised plans on Broadoaks Park. The football pitches, the restoration of two derelict “ substantial offering to the community on these before. However, this development will local community will be able to walk tennis courts, children’s play equipment, and top of its 125 properties, assisted living put these in plain view for the public to enjoy. freely into Broadoaks Park and enjoy the retention of an existing cricket pitch. scheme of 75 apartments, 26 affordable Octagon Developments, who are bringing views of the restored listed buildings houses, 18 shared ownership houses forward the scheme, are also looking and general open spaces we are Finally, as part of its Section 106 contributions, and a new 80-bed care home. at ways of retaining as many of the existing creating in our master plan.

the developer has provided £500,000 for trees on site as possible, and supplementing TIM BANKS the creation of a new sports and social club this with additional planting. Of particular note, the level of open green Chief Executive Officer, Octagon facility for the High Royd Sports Association. space offered by the site is exemplary and Contributions were also made to local transport will deliver benefits for residents, the wider They have delivered a Community Infrastructure infrastructure, including improved local community, and the environment. The overall Levy payment of £4.7million to Woking junctions within the vicinity. Borough Council alongside a separate Strategic private residential land includes 6.62 acres of Access Management and Monitoring payment open space, which accounts for 25% of the of £152,671.

32 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 33 Polling evidence

RESULTS OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AS PART OF THIS REPORT, WE COMMISSIONED YOUGOV TO CONDUCT

POLLING IN ORDER TO REVEAL PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DEVELOPER 0 500 1000 CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES, AND TO TEST PUBLIC OPINION ON HOW THESE CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD BE USED AND COMMUNICATED. An increased pressure on local facilities / services. (e.g. schools health services etc.)

Throughout this report we HBF commissioned YouGov to conduct a nationally representative poll of the general Financial contribution from developers for building have detailed the crucial or improving local communities. (e.g. health public in order to gauge public awareness of acilities, local parks, playgrounds, or roads etc.) placemaking role that developer contributions to local communities in England and Wales, and to understand the home builders play, and role these benefits play in achieving acceptance demonstrated the real- for local developments. Increased support from developers for local charities

world benefits these bring The results from the polling reveal: to communities across People in England and Wales are An increased number of local jobs & apprenticeships the country. It is important almost twice as likely (73%) to think that there is significant ‘increased pressure on local facilities/ services’ (e.g. schools, public awareness of the health services etc.) can be a result contributions home builders of housing developments, than Boost the local economy (e.g. more jobs avilable) ‘financial contributions from make to local areas, in order developers for building or improving to strengthen support for local communities’ (e.g. health facilities, local parks, playground development at a time or roads etc) (37%). None of these when we need to increase Learning that developers make housing supply further. community investments improves people’s perceptions of housing Don’t know developments in their local areas. Almost a quarter of respondents in England and Wales (22%) say this makes their opinion of housing developments more positive, with 55% stating that their opinion remains unchanged.

34 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 35 Polling evidence Conclusion and recommendations

We also wanted to test public opinion on Only 2% believed that unspent Developers are not purely RECOMMENDATIONS how these contributions should be used developer contributions should be and communicated. returned to developers, which is the home builders, they are As such, we have three core recommendations status quo. community builders as for how the process of local authorities receiving The combined England and Wales developer funding should be improved. public would welcome efforts to In response to this research, HBF has devised well. The evidence, both increase levels of transparency a set of practical policy recommendations from statistical findings Industry continues to engage with the in the system. Over half (52%) of that we believe will increase levels of public Government’s ‘Planning for the Future’ the public are interested in knowing understanding and trust towards the developer and from the on the ground consultation which outlines proposals to more about developer contributions contributions system. work of our members, significantly change the planning system in in their area. England. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from demonstrates that Almost three quarters of the public YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2023 adults, developers are contributing The below recommendations apply both to (73%) think that unspent developer of which 1,841 were in England and Wales. the interim period before any new legislation contributions should be spent in their Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th - 5th significantly, not just to is implemented, but also as guiding principles local area, compared to 7% who think March 2020. The survey was carried out bricks and mortar, but to which should be enshrined in future reforms. they should be put to use for wider online. The figures have been weighted and are the communities they serve. national infrastructure improvements, representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). 01. or retained by the council (7%). Developers financial contributions should be It is crucial that a strong framework is in place spent according to their negotiated purpose to ensure that these contributions are used and within their agreed time limit. UNSPENT COMMUNITY MONEY effectively and transparently, for the benefit of communities across the UK. However, if financial contributions cannot be used for their original stated purpose 73% It should be spent in the local area It is also important that there is a mutual within the agreed timeframe, then they understanding between developers and local should be given directly to people in the local authorities about how these contributions community, not returned to developers. The should be used, with a clear set of shared core principle underlying this is that these 9% It should be returned to the housing developer principles. financial contributions should always benefit the communities they were intended for, even % in circumstances when the specific agreed 73 use for the money is not met. Options for 7% It should be spent on wider national IT SHOULD BE SPENT IN distribution could include direct payments to infrastructure (e.g transport, energy etc) THE LOCAL AREA local households, or council tax rebates.

7% It should be kept by local authorities

2% None of these 2% Don’t know

36 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION 37 Conclusion and recommendations

02. Local authorities should be compelled that come from new developments, which to publish an easily digestible summary is needed in order to enhance public of their annual reports on their website, support for building the homes we need which includes details of how money from to tackle our housing crisis. developers is being spent, to improve public transparency of this process. These recommendations are supported by the YouGov polling which demonstrates 03. that the public want to become more Private developers and local authorities aware of home builder contributions, should adopt a public badging scheme and are in support of financial to increase awareness of how developer contributions going directly to contributions are spent. communities if they cannot be used for their original stated purpose. This means that when a community asset, such as a park, school, or hospital, has Building communities is the passion that been funded by a developer, this should be drives developers in our housing industry. made clear, such as through the use of a Houses are nothing without the places plaque or sign. This will help boost public they inhabit, and as a society, we should understanding of the community benefits always put community first.

38 BUILDING COMMUNITIES: MAKING PLACE A HOME HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION HBF HOUSE 27 BROADWALL LONDON SE1 9PL

T: 020 7960 1600 E: [email protected]