Hastings Commons wins gold award for its housing model in global competition

Hastings Commons’ housing model has won it the top prize in a global competition – and is put forward as a valuable example of how the town’s housing challenge can be helped to be met. Nick Terdre reports.

Hastings Commons has won joint top prize in the World Habitat Awards, organised in partnership with UN-Habitat, which celebrate, champion and develop new housing and habitat innovations, ideas and advances that improve the lives of people on low incomes.

The gold award consists of a cash prize of £10,000 and access to innovation funding and expertise from World Habitat, a charity which works internationally  to promote everyone’s right to an affordable and secure home.

A gold award also went to the Decent Homes for the Elderly project in Tanzania, while silver and bronze awards were made to another seven groups around the world.

The initiatives chosen for the awards offer proven solutions for housing affordability, ending homelessness, decarbonising housing and increasing climate resilience, and improving gender equity and social inclusion, said World Habitat. All winners show real potential for transfer and scaling.

Worthy winners

“Hastings Commons are worthy winners, with a lot to teach the world about renovating a whole neighbourhood fairly, sustainably, and affordably. Even in a country like the UK with a strong community-led housing movement, it is rare to see such an innovative, effective and large-scale model succeeding with longevity,” said David Ireland, the World Habitat CEO.

Hastings Commons CEO Jess Steele welcomed the award. “Hastings is the only place in the UK to be recognised by the World Habitat Awards. Through Hastings Commons and the wider Hastings Housing Alliance we are leading the way to demonstrate community-led solutions to the housing crisis that also tackle other problems such as dereliction, decarbonisation, social cohesion and economic development.

“Home is not just about housing units, it’s about building and nurturing community. The spaces people need are not just bedroom/bathroom/kitchen but spaces to be together. What we do at Hastings Commons is much more than housing: this is community-led regeneration of a whole neighbourhood that had been seriously neglected, showing that there is a real alternative to top-down models of regeneration and development. Commoning is about looking out for each other and looking after the place.”

It would not be possible to meet the government’s target of building 1.5m homes by relying solely on volume house-builders and housing associations, given the lack of large development sites in Hastings, she added.

“We need a more balanced approach to housing development, with serious support for community-led solutions that transform existing buildings and underused sites into new affordable homes, alongside workspace, social spaces and community-building programmes”.

The devolution white paper proposes a Community Right to Buy, giving communities first choice on important local assets, but this would only be effective if backed by funding and support, Steele pointed out.

Not-for-profit model

The Commons’ not-for-profit model prioritises long-term sustainability and permanent community ownership of land, accessible to all the town’s residents. Its approach involves and encourages residents to take control and shape their neighbourhood, so that it meets their needs and increases their connection to and pride in where they live.

Over the past decade, the community-led organisations behind Hastings Commons, a community land trust, have converted 8,500 square metres of derelict space, including Rock House and the Observer Building in the Trinity Triangle. Their efforts have positively impacted 6,400 people, building not just homes but a more connected, empowered community.

They have so far developed 12 flats in buildings they have renovated – 6 in Rock House, 4 at 39 Cambridge Road and 2 at 11 Claremont. They are now about to start the development of a further 12 in the Observer Building, following the award of a £1m Town’s Fund grant last year.

These will be affordable, sustainable and energy efficient homes with environmentally friendly features such as air source heat pumps and heat recovery systems.

Hastings Commons, a community land trust, are also in the throes of registering as a housing association, which will open the way to further house-building opportunities, including building homes from scratch.

After 10 years of paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future, Hastings Commons say they are just getting started. They plan to secure long-term income streams to grow and protect the Commons for future generations.

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