Canney Communities has been established to develop and promote Community Led Housing for disabled people and their families. During the year Canney Communities has brought together disabled people to identify unmet need for accessible housing. Following a previous feasibility study on a potential site in Bishop Auckland, disabled people planned and conducted a wide scale consultation exercise within the community. The survey and consultation demonstrated the local need for accessible funding and a grant was secured from Homes England, via Groundworks, to develop a full planning application for 14 accessible homes including family homes with 3 and 4 bedrooms. The Architect appointed then worked with the community to develop the design brief and the full Planning Application. This was submitted to the Local Authority in June 2022 and Planning Permission was agreed in June 2023 by Durham County Council. During 2024 Canney Communities held 4 meetings for members of the community to participate in discussions on accessible housing and feed in their views about what is needed to housing associations. Reports were made to 3 housing associations about the need for accessible homes in Bishop Auckland, particularly the lack of opportunity for young disabled people to share homes as a way of trailing independent living that had been identified by them and their families. This led to detailed discussions with one housing association who are a community organisation with ethos and value aligned to ours and understand the needs of disabled people. The information gathered from the meetings and wider discussions with disabled people in relation to accessible housing have been fed back to them and we are in early discussions about a partnership to develop the community led homes. A meeting with disabled people, who already have accessible homes, was also held to comment on the existing plans and where they may be improved before any building work begins and how individual homes could be adapted to meet needs. Disabled people’s views will continually be fed in through consultation and members lived experience to ensure that plans are continually consulted on and improved. Discussions were held with a supportive funder who’s interest is in shared living and we were able to feed back the views and needs of local disabled people to them with a view to seeking future support for the project. In September we promoted Accessible Homes week through our social media page to raise awareness of the lack of accessible housing. Initial discussions have been held with Communities CAN, the regional community led housing group, about support for promoting the scheme and supporting the access to the site. This will include and update on their website to promote the project across the region.

The companies stakeholders are; Disabled people in need of accessible housing regardless of age or impairment. Carers and families of disabled people Voluntary organisation who support disabled people and carers Community Led Housing organisations Housing Associations Homes England and housing funders NHS and social care Canney Communities has consulted all of the above stakeholders during the year to continue to ensure disabled people, their carers and families views about accessible housing, is fed back to impact and influence plans for accessible homes. Four meetings have been held with disabled people or their families. As a result discussions have been held with 3 housing associations directly about the need for accessible housing and one has agreed to further discussion to look at developing the homes. Views have been fed back to a funder about the need for shared accessible homes and discussions are continuing with a view to potential investment in the project. Information has been shared by the Rural Homes network about the scheme to raise awareness of the need for accessible homes. Representatives of Homes England, NHS, social care and Local Authority Housing department have been kept up to date about the project and views of disabled people who need accessible homes.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration