Range of development activities

The Group has a Diverse Activity Strategy which supports the Group’s growth ambitions, setting out other types of development and other activities, which are undertaken to provide returns to invest into affordable housing.

These type of activities will, in the short term, utilise some of the Group’s development capacity, but will in the medium to longer term increase the Group’s ability to grow through making financial returns. The Group is only able to carry out these activities through the use of free reserves and the Diverse Activity Strategy sets out a level of return that Circle Anglia would expect to make as a minimum for each type of activity. Circle Anglia therefore will continue to acquire and build new developments across a wide range of tenures, including the following:

• Housing for rent (housing for homeless families / individuals)
• Flexible tenure
• Low cost home ownership (new build home buy / shared ownership / fixed equity / home buy / part sale)
• Key worker accommodation
• Leaseholder schemes
• Freehold schemes
• Market rent accommodation
• Housing for sale
• Supported housing

The split between these tenure types is constantly reviewed against the Group’s capacity. They dovetail into targets set out in the Group’s Diverse Activity Strategy and assist in supporting core activities set out in the Group’s Business Plan. The Group has a portfolio approach to development, ensuring the overall budget is balanced through a variety of tenures being delivered across the Group’s geographical area of operation, whilst ensuring every scheme is targeted by the most appropriate market, meeting either the highest level of housing need or an appropriate demand.

Regeneration

Circle Anglia has an established track record of delivering new homes through regeneration projects. The Group’s approach to development is to link into regeneration schemes through the Business Growth function, supporting initial bids / master planning in liaison with existing tenants. The Development Team are fully engaged within the regeneration process and see this as a key area of growth creating and supporting sustainable communities with mixed tenure housing solutions.

Circle Anglia has a wealth of experience in delivering developments through Section 106 agreements by jointly buying land and bringing forward opportunities with partners or seeking out land opportunities direct. The Group will continue to look to develop through all of these routes but will also look to deliver housing for sale, either in our own right or through joint ventures in line with the Group’s Diverse Activity Strategy.

The Group is aware of the changing environment in which we work – not least in the planning arena. Circle Anglia will continuously look to work in true partnership with house builders, developers, land owners and others to bring forward opportunities to meet highest demand in each location.

Circle Anglia also has a wealth of experience in delivering a wide range of supported and special needs housing. The Group has a strategic advantage of its care and support Group member (EPIC Trust) with whom the Group’s Development Team works to identify the areas of highest need.

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