Evera Homes – First development secured for innovative housing partnership

Evera Homes, a ground-breaking joint venture to deliver new homes in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough combined authority area, has just announced its first development scheme.

Work will start in December 2018 on the 60-home project near Upwood in Huntingdonshire. The development consists of 2,3,4, and 5 bedroom properties –  delivering a mix of outright sale, shared ownership and affordable rent. Demonstrating Evera’s commitment to maximising the delivery of affordable housing, 24 homes will be of this tenure type – making up 40% of the total scheme.

Evera is an LLP created and capitalised by Flagship Group, Hyde Group, Longhurst Group and Cross Keys Homes. The new partnership brings together the members’ skills, expertise and local knowledge; it also offers a platform for investment in partnerships with others in the public and private sector.

The joint venture aims to tackle the acute housing shortage by delivering homes at a greater pace. The plan is to deliver the start on site of an additional 2,000 new homes by 2023.

The news of Evera’s first development was announced at the official launch event on Monday 5th November in Cambridge. More than 50 prominent and influential people from the housing sector attended to find out more about what Evera has to offer and ways of working together.

Carol Cairns, Head of Home Ownership and Supply for the South East at Homes England, was one of the key speakers at the event. She said: “Working in partnership to share risk and reward on sites, to ensure delivery is in the right places, of the right quality and appropriately addresses local needs, I think is fantastic.

“We’re already working together with some of the organisations forming Evera Homes, so we have those partnerships in place. I think finding new ways to drive the delivery of homes is really important, so I’m pleased to see Housing Associations working together to find new ways to deliver more homes.”

Chair of Evera Homes Claire Higgins said: “I’m really delighted that we have now had approval for our first development. We have been keen to work quickly because we share ambition. We have been well-received by local authorities, landowners and agents and have several other potential opportunities we will be able to announce soon.”

Julie Doyle, Chief Executive of Longhurst Group, said: “We want to build futures together and believe that by working in partnership we can deliver thousands more homes by sharing our expertise and resources.

“The level of interest at our launch event was extremely encouraging. It’s our hope that the positive conversations which were held will lead to further possibilities for growth across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to support the ongoing economic success in the area.”

The creation of Evera Homes was supported by Katrina Laud of consultancy KLMC and Trowers & Hamlins Solicitors.

Find out more about the new housing partnership at: www.everahomes.co.uk