Services We Offer
Creating Communities
Colne is a community based housing association that provides a wide range of housing services and solutions. We are responsive to local needs and are proud of our track record in creating affordable housing in different locations and in a variety of ways. These range from working with large national developers, through to innovative solutions to housing needs such as purpose built bungalows for clients with physical disabilities.
As well as providing and managing rented housing we also provide:
- leasehold management services
- maintenance services
- supported housing services
- community development work
All this adds up to Colne being a housing organisation that is flexible and responsive, providing a comprehensive range of services tailored to local needs.
Working with Developers - We work on small one-off sites through to major developments such as North Colchester and the Hythe.
Key Workers - We are actively developing key worker housing. This is aimed at people who work in Colchester and who don't earn enough to buy a home on the open market. Priority is often given to people working in the key service professions of teaching, the police and nursing, but other workers are free to apply.
We have developed two types of key worker accommodation:
Housing for rent - Rents are set at around 80% of the equivalent market rent.
"Shared equity" Home Ownership - The key worker buys a share in the property (typically 70%) and owns that share in perpetuity. When they sell the property, they get the same % of the profits from the sale - hence the title equity share. For more information on our key worker accommodation for rent please download our information leaflet . If you require further information on either of these schemes please contact keyworker@colnehousing.co.uk .
Rural Housing- Building on our successful track record, we are currently working with the parish councils in Gestingthorpe and St Osyth to develop housing for rural communities.
Supported Housing - Colne Housing Society provides supported housing for over 80 adults with physical and learning disabilities across North Essex. We work closely with Primary Care Trusts, Care Agencies and Social Services to provide a proactive tailored housing management service to our customers who need support to live in the community.
In 2006 we entered into a new partnership with Essex Autistic Society and are currently working with Essex County Council to provide homes for 13 adults moving from residential care in Halstead.
To find out more please telephone 01206 244700 or e-mail support@colnehousing.co.uk
Temporary Housing - We provide over 40 units of temporary housing, working in partnership with Colchester, Tendring and Maldon Councils. This accommodation is mostly provided through our short term private sector leasing scheme. Colne has also carried out a major piece of research into PSL schemes. See the Safe Haven Project website for more details.
Off-Site Manufacture - Our Northern Approaches development has been our first to use timber frame construction. We aim to continue to work with builders to maximise the use of new, efficient building technologies.
Regeneration - Our partnership at the Hythe has been key to the development of affordable housing in the area. We have also lead on the development of a childrens' nursery for the area.
Community Development - Our CAM community development project in North Colchester is making vital links with the old and new communities emerging in this growth area.
Leasehold Management - We provide leasehold management services to over 140 leaseholders, the majority of whom live in our 4 leasehold retirement schemes. For more information, please click here.
In Biz - We are committed to raising the profile of the social housing sector through the National Housing Federation's "In Business" campaign. For more information please visit the National Housing Federation website at www.housing.org.uk.
