GMCLH supports a range of community-led housing projects across the Greamer Manchester region. See below for some examples of the projects we aim to support.
Housing People Building Communities (HPBC)
Creating homes for local people and building communities using a unique sweat-equity model.
Location: Wigan
Type of project: Charity
Status: Established with three projects completed and three in planning
GMCLH has been supporting and learning from HPBC for many years – their first two projects were in Liverpool and we visited on numerous occasions, meeting Home Partners and exploring the sweat equity model. An introduction from GLCLH to an investor and an already strong relationship with the Archdiocese of Liverpool brought about a move to Wigan for their third project.
In partnership with Prima Group (RSL) and with fantastic support from Wigan Council they recruited locally connected ‘home partners’ who volunteered 500 hours of sweat equity to secure a £10,000 deposit on their Shared Ownership home. The project saw 27 new homes created – a mix of apartments (in the presbytery and deconsecrated church) and detached new build homes on adjacent land.
GMCLH members joined council staff, investors and home partners for a team day in 2024 and were proud to donate their sweat equity hours: landscaping, prepping floors for screed and generally hard grafting! The St Williams, Ince project is now fully occupied and has won a raft of awards as well as receiving national press attention for its unique approach to making housing more affordable.
HPBC staff and board members are always keen to support community groups in Greater Manchester – we co hosted a ‘CLH in Wigan Roadshow’ which has led to Wigan being one of the most active boroughs for CLH in the Combined Authority. This has led to a further three sites currently being assessed in the borough to roll out the model and create another 60+ homes.
Open to new members? No
Contact: https://hpbc.org.uk
Greater Manchester Community Led Homes 