Spring beginnings with Martyn Broadest

Earlier this month, we faced a rather unique day for Connect’s development programme. As the keys to one scheme of new homes was handed over to us, another was breaking ground.

In the morning, we took the keys to our new development of 14 homes at Lily Close in North Halifax. The two- and three-bedroom houses, including two bungalows designed specifically with wheelchair users in mind, have been built to very high energy efficiency standards, well in excess of current Building Regulations. Each home is super-insulated, with fully filled extra-wide cavity walls, superior levels of air-tightness (that means no draughts!), a whole house ventilation system with heat recovery, solar panels on the roof, and an Air Source Heat Pump for the heating and hot water. The new homes are built in natural stone, are spacious and flooded with daylight from the large windows and are fitted with stylish kitchens and bathrooms. To top it off, there are some fantastic views over the neighbouring Pennine countryside.

This was the culmination of more than 4 years’ work from when our contractor partner, Halifax-based building company West End Joiners and Builders (WEJB), brought the site to us. Having worked with them on two other projects, we knew we would get a high-quality product at the end, and they have not disappointed. 

All the new homes are available at below-market rent levels, and the tenants have started moving in already. The feedback so far has been fantastic! 

In return for WEJB using part of the neighbouring Forest Cottage Community Centre for their site office and parking, local community organisation the OSCA Foundation, received valuable rental income and have had some refurbishment work done to the building. It’s a great example of how some creative thinking has delivered significant community benefit through the building process. Thank you for being great hosts. 

Later the same day, we moved up the Calder Valley to Todmorden, to mark the start of construction on our next development in an official “Groundbreaking” ceremony. Ferney Lee is a partnership between Calder Valley Community Land Trust (CVCLT) and Connect Housing. CVCLT were commissioned by the Todmorden Town Board to deliver a new enterprise centre for the town, as part of the Government’s Towns Fund initiative. CVCLT agreed to do so on the condition that they could also deliver more affordable housing alongside it. They selected Connect to be their partner to help them do this, and for the last two years we have been working together to make this exciting mixed-use scheme come to life.

The enterprise centre will provide 23 work units available at low rents and on flexible terms to start-up businesses from the local area. The 19 new homes will again provide super-energy-efficient accommodation built to PassivHaus standards, including low-carbon heating and solar panels on the roofs. The site is well located not far from the town centre, with a large park at the bottom of the road, and local primary and secondary schools nearby.

Connect will develop and own the new homes, whilst a subsidiary of CVCLT will own and operate the enterprise centre. The scheme will help to cement the longstanding working relationship between the partners, who have been collaborating on the delivery and management of new affordable housing in the upper Calder Valley area for several years. 

PLP Construction, a family business from Heywood, have been chosen to deliver the scheme on behalf of Connect and CVCLT. PLP bring with them a wealth of experience in delivering high quality low-carbon housing and have a well-earned reputation for working closely with the communities where their projects are based. We’ve been really impressed with their approach so far. 

Building work will continue for the next 12 months with residents expected to move into their new homes in the Spring of 2026. You can follow progress with the scheme via our New homes page or by following CVCLT’s social media channels. 

A big thank you to our key funding partner Homes England, who have provided funding towards the costs of both schemes through the UK Government’s Affordable Homes Programme. Thanks also to Calderdale Council who have helped to facilitate the delivery of both schemes. And a shout out to our design teams led by Spawforths (Lily Close) and GWP Architecture (Ferney Lee), and our Employer’s Agent, LK Group.  

Both the Lily Close and Ferney Lee projects demonstrate Connect’s commitment to creating and supporting sustainable communities through our new developments. Connect is a community partner for the long term, meaning we don’t just leave once our homes are let, we stay involved ensuring they are managed responsibly as part of the neighbourhood.