News
New report published - Blending the Boundaries
Devon and Cornwall Housing Association (part of the Devon and Cornwall Housing Group) (DCHA) was awarded an Innovation and Good Practice Grant to develop and test the financial viability of offering a homeownership assisted purchase product which enabled first time buyers to access the housing market using a rent to purchase scheme. The model was required to be viable without Housing Corporation or other subsidy. Download the full document
Testimonial - Sneinton Market & East side Gateway Neighbourhood Development Plan
Referring to photos generated during the youth work shop s for Sneinton Market and East Side Gateway Neighbourhood Development Plan . "They are brilliant and I think they really captured the essence of what the Young People were talking about during the day and what they wanted to say.
The Young People really enjoyed the day and will be thrilled to see what they have produced.
Many thanks and best wishes"
Karen Johnson
Detached Youth Worker
Testimonial - Birmingham City Council
In January 2008 arc4 organised a series of workshops to enable Birmingham CC staff to see how other authorities and organisations had handled clearance, to share best practice and debate the topic. The City Council had undertaken a Kickstart-related project and were looking to upgrade their RRO rehousing and support packages and wished to explore how other LAs carried out their consultation and used the information gathered to put together supportive housing packages.
Hywel Williams (Service Manager on the Pathfinder Team) commented: "The workshops hit the right note with our staff and were definitely at the right level. We learned a lot about how clearance areas are being developed. From start to finish, arc4 understood exactly what we wanted - and delivered it!" Guy Chaundy was so pleased with the outcome of the workshops that he felt that "there would be benefits to be had in have a final session focusing on an LA led Clearance scheme with a similar tenure mix to that of current BCC projects" and has asked arc4 to facilitate this. arc4 welcome the opportunity to carry out more work with Birmingham CC who have also decided to use arc4's Masterclasses to support their senior staff through this complex topic of affordable loans.
Testimonial - RENEW HMRI North Staffordshire
"arc4 were appointed to support the RENEW HMRI Pathfinder to develop financial products to support residents affected by residents in 2004. These products are now successfully in place thus creating housing pathways for all!
I found arc4 a pleasure to work with and their project approach was fair, focused and responsive. It has been refreshing to work with people who provide an intelligent exchange of views and pragmatic solutions, the team worked hard to ensure they delivered a tailored and value for money service. As a measure of our satisfaction RENEW has again asked arc4 to carry out further work and research. We would definitely recommend arc4 to other organisations and hope that they too can benefit from a very postive partnering experience ".
Tamsin Hartley
Head of Strategy and Policy
RENEW HMRI North Staffordshire
Testimonial - Teesdale
"Teesdale District Council has worked with the arc4 team on three projects over the past three years. The work they have produced is consistently robust and professional, but written in a fashion that makes it useable across a range of professions and out in the public domain. We have built strong personal relations with a team that are committed, warm and dedicated. We have always felt able to follow up with any queries or issues even some time after the initial work was produced, the arc4 team has always been obliging.
The commitment to the quality of the work,and the aim that it is fit for our purpose is, in our experience their priority, they have come to understand our authority and our District and we are delighted to have found them".
Pat Graham
Strategic Planning Manager
Teeside District Council
Testimonial - Sedgefield Borough Council
"Sedgefield Borough Council has worked very successfully with arc4 in developing a Relocation Equity Loan product to assist the relocation of clearance affected by Housing Market Renewal in our priority areas.
arc4 and their representatives have made a significant contribution to this project offering their expertise along with efficient, friendly guidance and support in an area of work that is new to the Council.
We would have no hesitation in recommending arc4 to any organisation working through the difficult process of Housing Market Renewal".
Angela Stephenson
Private Sector Renewals Manager
Sedgefield Borough Council
Testimonial - Transform South Yorkshire
" I am very pleased with the work completed by abra/DCHR (now arc4) on the sub-regional housing strategy, which was well planned, on time and on budget. It addressed our need and, importantly, kept me “in the Loop”.
Jeff Goode, Director
Transform South Yorkshire