Category: Homes

How (not) to win customers (and get blacklisted)

Don't bother mate: I'm closed for business

I blogged recently about a publisher I’d blacklisted for its dubious ad-selling, amongst other things. It was the first time I’d done this since moving to Bristol a couple of years ago.

Just like the proverbial buses which nobody sees until another one has just arrived, a different company has given me reason to repeat the act this week.

The offending firm has approached me unsuccessfully in the past with offers to publish ‘free editorial’ in return for allowing them to contact partners and pressure them to support this with advertising.

It’s a mystery to me why anyone in the sector supports this activity, which is often produced to such a poor quality that it is barely credible. Housing has a great story to tell, and better publications understand this and will help us to do so without charging for it.

After making this point a few times, I thought they had got the message.

Continue reading “How (not) to win customers (and get blacklisted)” →

Jury’s out on eviction talk

I was interested to read that my former local council in Bury has become the latest landlord to promise to evict any tenant found guilty of offences connected with the riots last week.

This follows similar pledges from councils in Wandsworth, Manchester, Salford, Nottingham and others in the days following the disturbances, which have seen more than 1,500 arrests in a little over a week.  

The calls seem to chime with popular sentiment, with more than 100,000 people having signed a petition calling for rioters to lose their benefits. This e-petition has been referred to a parliamentary committee, which will decide if the idea will be debated in the House of Commons by MPs.

Continue reading “Jury’s out on eviction talk” →

Housing could hold the key to Big Society comms challenge

new homes built by Ocean Housing Cornwall

I’ve blogged before about suggestions that the Big Society is failing to cut through public confusion and apathy. Surveys suggest that most people do not understand it, leaving those responsible for delivering the vision with a major challenge.

So it’s with interest that I started reading The report of the Commission on Big Society, published this month, which gets stuck into this issue in the opening paragraphs:

“People are not clear on what the big society is. Our polling found that 78% of adults in the UK believe the Government has failed to give people a clear idea of what the big society is. Our survey suggested that over 30% of voluntary sector CEOs say they are unclear…
“…We believe the Government should articulate a clearer definition of what it is that it is trying to achieve.”

Continue reading “Housing could hold the key to Big Society comms challenge” →

Totnes tale brings home benefits of affordable housing

Totnes family at affordable home

Since joining the HCA, I am less involved in developing human stories which demonstrate the affordable housing’s positive impact than.

This is mainly because although we directly fund the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes, they are built and managed by organisations that have the direct links with tenants and first time buyers who benefit.

This leaves us reliant on social landlords and housing providers to uncover those occasional gems needed to bring a standard story to life.

Continue reading “Totnes tale brings home benefits of affordable housing” →

Cashes Green consultation puts localism into action

Cashes Green consultation

I returned from the Easter break today to the news that plans to transform the derelict Cashes Green Hospital in Stroud into new homes and community facilities are in.

I blogged in January about the impressive consultation that went into shaping the proposals submitted to Stroud District Council.

We engaged hundreds of people living near the site. They attended the regular consultation events, received newsletters and caught dozens of media articles on the plans in recent months.

In many ways the consultation led by Hab Oakus, a joint venture led by Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and GreenSquare Group, was textbook stuff.

Continue reading “Cashes Green consultation puts localism into action” →

Affordable homes blend into Exmoor beauty

Exmoor homes

I visited a site today in one of the most beautiful villages I have ever been to, where new affordable housing is happening.

Wheddon Cross in Exmoor is one of those picturesque villages many people would dream of living. Situated on top of the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, with a smashing pub and hotels in the centre of the village and stunning scenery in every direction, it seems popular with visitors.

But with average house prices in Exmoor approaching an eye-watering £400,000 last year, many locals find it impossible to afford to live in villages like this.

Continue reading “Affordable homes blend into Exmoor beauty” →