Community Led Housing

Community Led Housing Project
Pulse has supported ICT over many years. Our most recent support has been to assist ICT with the development of a new community led housing project in partnership with Seedley and Langworthy Trust (SALT). This included developing a business plan to provide local affordable housing. Our approach involved research into existing provision and discussions with Salford City Council and Urban Vision regarding potential development sites, and Homes England regarding grant funding. We assessed market demand and developed a range of options including the potential development of 24 new homes on a former school site. Income projections were made based on market rents, social rents and Local Housing Allowance rate for comparison and requirement identified. We have also facilitated joint board sessions to support a merger and development of a new legal structure capable of becoming a Registered Provider. We are now supporting development of an application for Registered Provider status and progressing social investment.

Bernadette Elder, Chief Executive Officer at ICT said “Inspiring Communities Together have received support from Pulse for a number of years, firstly as part of the development of the Charity in 2011 and latterly in carry out work to establish a Community Land Trust to develop a Community Led Housing model. We have always found the team to be responsive to our requirements and demonstrate an extensive knowledge of the area of work we have engaged them to carry out for us. The process has always been a collaborative one engaging with senior management, board members and wider staff teams to ensure everyone is part of the process of change.  We would have no hesitation in recommending Pulse for support”

Affordable Housing Project
Pulse developed a business plan for North Huyton Communities Future (NHCF) for the purchase and refurbishment of 10 properties through social finance. Our support included an analysis of market potential to consider the demand for affordable housing, availability of empty stock, and demand for construction training. Consultation was undertaken with potential partners about availability of empty stock to lease and refurbish and with Knowsley College and community organisations to identify potential workstreams through maintenance and landscaping. As part of the is work NHCF wished to establish a construction learning company in partnership with local providers of further education to assist in the development of local young people and in supporting them into work. The business plan included developing a vision and aims, a business model for the enterprise, revenue projections based on the new properties using Local Housing Allowance rates, and a forward plan. Pulse also provided support to create a suite of housing policies and in establishing systems to measure social impact.

Tim Motlon Chief Executive of North Huyton Communities Future limited said “Pulse have been a tremendous help to our regeneration work here at Knowsley, helping us with business planning, devising/writing bid propositions and helping us collate monitoring/evaluation reports.  We have made use of their wide range of services over the years and will continue to do so into the future”

Housing Service Business Plan
Pulse was appointed by Groundwork Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Rochdale (now Groundwork Greater Manchester) to develop a Business Plan for new housing provision to expand their current portfolio of properties and create opportunities for the further development of training and employment services. The plan included establishing aims, demand for ex-offender accommodation and wraparound services, a competitor analysis, development of a business model including housing selection criteria, management and staffing requirements, risk assessment, and undertaking income and expenditure projections. Pulse also helped define outcomes and a Theory of Change to understand the project’s social impact.