Introduction
Calder Valley Community Land Trust and Connect Housing are working on plans to create 23 affordable rented offices on the site of the former Ferney Lee Home for Older People.
Project Outline
The enterprise centre will offer modern, professional facilities for small and start-up businesses, as well as more established enterprises. The building will be fully accessible meaning fewer barriers to people turning their ideas into businesses, their passions to profit.
The enterprise centre will sit on the former care home off Ferney Lee Road.
Separate to Town Deal funding, Calder Valley Community Land Trust has partnered with a West Yorkshire based social landlord aiming to place affordable rented homes on this site. There are 10,000 people on the housing waiting list in Calderdale, this element of the project aims to provide energy efficient affordable homes to alleviate some of the affordable housing shortage.
What It Will Achieve
- Twenty units offering contemporary, energy efficient, affordable rented workspace
- Attract creative and digital businesses to bring skilled jobs to Todmorden
- Flexible units available to other types of business, workspaces can adapt as needs and demands change over time
- Links with schools and Todmorden Learning Centre & Community Hub to develop opportunities for young people to work in skilled jobs in their town
- Bring new businesses, attracting more customers to spend time and money with existing local businesses
over 100 people attend Consultation event
Over 100 people attended the consultation event on 22nd November to view plans and drawings for the exciting new enterprise centre project, incorporating affordable rented homes, proposed for the Ferney Lee site.
Team members and trustees of Calder Valley Community Land Trust and their development partner Connect Housing listened to ideas and comments from local people.
The event proved highly constructive in that we implemented changes to the plans during the event itself in direct response to comments from residents.
This 3D model helped people visualise our plans.
Residents living on Ferney Lee Road shared their concerns about a shortage of parking in their neighbourhood and were concerned that our development did not create overspill parking. A redesign has increased onsite parking by 10%.
Traffic concerns shared by Harehill Street residents meant we changed a vehicle entrance to a pedestrian only entrance. At the suggestion of Lee View Court residents we relocated a bin store.
The most popular aspect of the plans related to our retention of most of the trees and improvement of a green space for communal use. Other aspects that proved popular were that the site will be community owned and run, the inclusion of affordable rented homes, the sustainable design and the opportunity for vibrant working spaces in the enterprise centre.
We heard about existing drainage problems in the wider area and whilst we can’t address those directly, we can ensure our design does not make that problem worse. Our development will have porous surfaces to absorb rainwater, rather than create run-off and during heavy rainfall, water will be held in underground attenuation tanks for slow release over a long period of time so as not to overwhelm local drains and watercourses.
The project has been made possible by the huge contribution of Calder Valley Community Land Trust’s volunteers and is underpinned by a community asset transfer of the land from Calderdale Council, town deal funding secured by the Todmorden Town Deal Board from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and a development partnership with Connect Housing.
For information on Todmorden Town Deal, visit www.todmordentowndeal.co.uk
Our public consultation document can be found here 2023-10 Ferney Lee Site Public Consultation Presentation_P04 FINAL.PDF
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Follow Us
Who we are:
Calder Valley Community Land Trust was established in 2014 by local volunteers wanting to address the need for more affordable rented sustainable housing in the Upper Valley. CVCLT has over 300 members and you can join here https://caldervalleyclt.org.uk/get-involved/ and sign up for our newsletter here https://caldervalleyclt.org.uk/our-news-and-events/.
The local community’s trust in our work has led to people investing £366k in community shares, gifting Fielden Hall in Todmorden, gifting land, leaving a legacy and more.
Our development partner, Connect Housing, is a charitable housing association providing over 3,500 affordable homes and housing related support services across West Yorkshire. They promote diversity and inclusivity, and support housing for various age groups making all people valued.
Together, the 2 organisations have already secured planning permission for 20 affordable rented homes in Hebden Bridge.
Todmorden Town Deal enterprise centre
The enterprise centre project is part of the £17.5M Todmorden Town Deal investment programme led by Todmorden Town Deal Board due to be completed by Spring 2026.
For more information on the Todmorden Town Deal, visit: www.todmordentowndeal.co.uk
The enterprise centre aims to provide a home for 21st century jobs in Todmorden, jobs that can provide work for our young people who move away to study and want to return to live and work. There are many people working in their attic or bedroom and the affordable office space will give them an opportunity to separate work and home life.
Sustainability is at the heart of our designs for both offices and homes. Well insulated, low energy, renewable energy and respecting nature are key elements of this project.
Timeline
October 2023 – carry out the site surveys.
November 2023 – carry out consultation.
December 2023 – submit a planning application.
Spring 2024 – decision on the planning application.
Summer 2024 – appoint contractors and begin the build.
December 2025 – complete the build.
January 2026 – people and businesses move in.
Take a look at our achievements so far CVLT_Annual_Review_2022-23.pdf
