Development
Our mission is to provide quality, affordable rented housing and we are committed to developing and providing homes in Islington.
In Islington, where property prices are among the highest in London and where housing need is at its highest, we are able to work to a local scale and develop projects other, larger, housing providers would typically turn down.
For 50 years we have worked with a range of partners and organisations, including Islington Council, to deliver high quality homes. Our work in Barnsbury Street and our Morland Mews estate have both received awards and commendations from the Civic Trust and the Department of Housing.
New ground floor, accessible homes
We are hoping to start site work on the garage conversion project in early 2025. This will see 35 garages on the estate converted into six new homes, ranging from a studio flat to a larger, fully wheelchair-accessible two-bedroom home.
Pictured: how some of the garages look now and, below, our architect’s visualisation of how they should look after the conversion works
Rents will be set at social rent levels so will be genuinely affordable to people on moderate incomes. The homes will be offered on a ‘first dibs’ to existing residents who are looking to downsize and to people who need a ground floor home.
Energy efficiency works
We know from recent surveys that more than a third of our residents struggle to pay their heating bills, more so now that bills are going up again this autumn. Finding ways to make homes warmer, more comfortable to live in and more affordable to heat has been a priority for us.
Pictured: retrofitting works to these Pugin Courts flats will make them considerable warmer and cheaper to heat
We have managed to secure a large grant of £500,000 from the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, matched with £500,000 from our own funds. This will allow us to upgrade 76 homes across the Morland Mews estate which currently fall below EPC C.
Work started in September and we are working with contractor Purdy’s on the upgrade. Improvements will include draughtproofing, loft insulation, new heating controls and, in some Pugin Court flats, new more efficient heating systems and solar panels.
As part of the work, we are replacing old cavity wall insulation across part of the estate, especially in areas where damp and mould is prevalent.
The project is being managed for us by Avis Venning. Purdy’s resident liaison manager and representative Nicky Hobbs can be contacted at our 60 Morland Mews office.
Barnsbury Housing Association aims to be nimble and creative as well as a connected partner. We are always open to new partnerships and development opportunities. If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Both photo credits: Charlie Round-Turner