DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20212

Twelve years after its creation,

Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH)

is at an exciting stage of its

journey as a leading housing

association in the Midlands.

In 2016, having successfully

delivered all the promises set out in

the transfer agreement, and having

implemented a strategy to mitigate

the effects of the government

imposed 1% rent cuts, SARH

launched its new Corporate Plan

2016-21 “Delivering in a Changing

World”.

In 2018, the Board of SARH

reviewed progress against the plan

and made amendments to

acknowledge changes in the

operating environment and to reflect

the Board’s desire to stretch targets

on service delivery and development.

The Development Strategy is one of

a suite of underpinning strategies

that have also been refreshed to

ensure they remain relevant and

aligned with the plan and its

objectives and targets.

The refreshed Development Strategy

builds on the five aims within the

original strategy and continues to

provide the strategic roadmap that

ensures SARH operates a joined-up

and focused development

programme.

The five targets are:

- Build or acquire 900 new affordable

homes between 2016 -2021

- Secure or develop 30 new homes

for market sale through County Town

Homes

- All new developments deliver value

for money and create social value

- Deliver long life and low energy

new homes which incorporate

innovative technologies

- Secure external funding to assist

SARH to deliver at least 300 new

affordable homes

The Development Strategy has been

compiled to complement and inform

SARH strategic objectives. It sets out

priorities, not only to build homes,

but also meet the aspiration of

customers by building homes which

current and future generations will be

proud of.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20213

Since 2009 SARH has built or

acquired over 700 new homes in

Stafford Borough’s rural and

town centre communities.

These new homes include exemplar

rural developments in Gnosall,

Swynnerton, Meir Heath and Hixon.

New flagship town centre

developments in Stafford and Stone

have been completed at William

Horton Court, Friars Terrace and

Priory Road. Much needed

regeneration projects have also

lifted communities at Hesketh Road,

West Way and Exeter Street.

SARH have also secured a number

of section 106 opportunities with

key house building partners to

deliver a mix of affordable homes in

Stafford, Great Haywood,

Eccleshall and Stone.

The foundation these new homes

have been built on is successful

partnership arrangements. Great

efforts have been made in forging

strong links with Local Authority

partners, key local and national

developers, and strategically placed

consultants and agents.

These partners have supported

SARH in establishing a growing

reputation as a reliable

development partner and investor in

the communities in which SARH

operates.

SARH continues to deliver its

development programme through

its Development Team which was

established in January 2015. This

team has driven SARH’s

development programme forward,

to support SARH’s growing

programme. A number of new roles

have been created in the team to

achieve the stretch target of 900

new homes between 2016 -2021.

During 2018 The SARH Board

approved the development of new

homes outside Stafford Borough.

SARH has identified three strategic

growth areas in which it may build

new homes during the life of the

refreshed Corporate Plan.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20214

Build or acquire

900 new affordable

homes between

2016 -2021

• Continually review and assess

housing need

• Build or acquire new homes in

SARH rural communities, town

centre locations and key SARH

strategic growth areas

• Ensure all Shared Ownership

properties are sold within a 6

month period

• Explore opportunities to

develop SARH existing assets

to build new homes

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20215

• Commence County Town Homes

first market sale development

• Develop a pipeline of market sale

sites

• Forge new partnerships with

developers with a track record in

delivering high quality market sale

products

• Use surpluses from commercial

activities to support the

construction of new affordable

homes

Secure or develop 30

new homes for market

sale through County

Town Homes

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20216

• Ensure 30% of all employees

and sub contractors are from a

Staffordshire postcode for all

SARH led developments

• Support one apprentice for

every £1m spent on each SARH

led development

• Customer satisfaction with new

build to exceed 90%

• SAP rating of 82 or above for

new build properties

All new developments

deliver value for money

and create social value

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20217

• Create a housing innovation group

with key stakeholders

• Deliver a pilot construction scheme

using modern methods of

construction (MMC) and smart and

eco technologies

• Create a framework to monitor new

technologies installed on

development sites

• Identify direct and indirect funding

opportunities for housing

innovation pilots

Deliver homes which

are long life, low energy

and incorporate

innovative technologies

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2018-20218

• Further develop SARH

relationship with the Homes

England (HE) and explore new

partnership arrangements

• Continue to build on a strong

working relationship with

Stafford Borough Council,

Staffordshire County Council,

local members and Parish

Councils

• Forge new partnerships in new

Local Authority areas targeted

for development

• Work in partnership with

developers to deliver affordable

and high quality homes

Secure external funding

to assist SARH to deliver

at least 300 new

affordable homes