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Would you like to be a part of Women’s Pioneer Housing decision-making team?

We are recruiting for voluntary resident consultants to help us pick a new contractor, determining the scope of work.

We require your knowledge and understanding of your properties so we may move forward.

The consultation close date is 21st April 2024

Those participating in the consultation will be required to attend two consultation meetings, we are open to virtual attendance but in person meetings are preferable.

If you would like to take part in the consultation email us to feedback@womenspioneer.co.uk expressing your interest in participating

Wood Lane Scheme

We are delighted that, just over a year after achieving planning permission, we have completed on the lease of the land at Wood Lane - a pivotal achievement in our development aspirations and ongoing commitment to provide good quality affordable homes for single women. 

As we waved a fond farewell to our offices of over 40 years, we remained excited about the future of the land, HUB’s innovative co-living development providing over 200 homes and realising our ambitions of delivering 60 new affordable homes for single women.

We are proud to be working with great partners HUB, Bridge Fund Management, CDL, Trowers who have all been instrumental in reaching this milestone. 

Women’s Pioneer Housing Office Relocation: what you need to know

We have an important update to share with you regarding our head office location.

Please be aware that Women’s Pioneer Housing head office location changed as we moved on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.

Wood Lane Office

Effective from 2:00 pm on Tuesday February 13, 2024, our office at 227 Wood Lane, London W12 0EX, has ceased operations. At the moment, we are not able to accommodate drop-in visits or handle in-person queries. 227 Wood Lane and car park and Browning House at 229 Wood Lane is being prepared for works as part of a major redevelopment. The will be no vehicular access and very limited pedestrian access after 13 February as preparation works to the site start.

New Office in Hammersmith

As we transition, we will need to make alterations at our new location and temporarily will  not be able to take any in-person meetings or drop-ins in the new office space.  If you need to see your Housing Officer or a member of staff in person, we kindly ask that you schedule an appointment with us in advance by emailing us at customerservices@womenspioneer.co.uk or calling us on 020 8749 7112.

Our staff will arrange  to meet you at your home if you prefer to speak to us in person and, we urge you not to arrive at our new head office location without prior contact with us. We will do our best to accommodate your requests during this transition period.

Our new office is situated at 3 Angel Walk, Hammersmith W6 9HX.

Your cooperation in making advance arrangements is greatly appreciated as we navigate through this transition.

If you have any further inquiries or require any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 020 8749 7112 or email us at customerservices@womenspioneer.co.uk.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this period of change.

Free Handyman service for Kensington and Chelsea - Age UK

Simple DIY Service 

Age UK's Practical Help Service is open to Kensington & Chelsea residents over the age of 55 who need help with small tasks within their homes. This may include:

  • Fitting a spyholes and door chains to your front door (people who live in sheltered accommodation will need to ask permission from the housing provider before fitting door chains)
  • Hanging mirrors & pictures
  • Fixing hinges in cabinets & cupboards
  • Fitting curtain rails to the wall
  • Taking down your curtains and putting them back up when they have been washed
  • Putting up shelves
  • Assembling flat pack furniture
  • Moving light pieces of furniture
  • Simple draught proofing of doors and windows
  • Minor packing & unpacking
  • Replacing lightbulbs & fuses

Please note volunteers cannot carry out any tasks for which you would need a professional electrician, plumber, decorator, carpenter or locksmith.

If you would like help from our Practical Help Service or more information, please visit Simple DIY at Age UK

This service is free of charge, however donations are also welcome. Find out more at Age UK.

 

Mental Health Awareness Week

 

Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on the theme of ‘anxiety’ between 15th and 21st May. This is a time to reflect on the impact that mental health has on individuals and on society. As a social housing association, we want to highlight the complex and multifaceted link between poor mental health and housing insecurity and homelessness.

In the UK around 45% of people experiencing homelessness have been diagnosed with mental health issues. The causes of housing insecurity and homelessness are varied and include poverty, lack of affordable housing, addiction and more. However, mental health problems can also be a contributing factor making the relationship between mental illness and homelessness cyclical. For those who experience mental illness, homelessness can exacerbate symptoms and make it more difficult to access treatment and support. People who are not able to access safe affordable housing often face increased isolation and exposure to violence and trauma which can worsen their mental health.

At the same time, individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience mental health problems due to the stress and trauma of their situation. The experience of homelessness can lead to anxiety, depression and other issues, creating a cycle that is difficult to break. The link between mental illness and housing insecurity is compounded by lack of access to a safe home, healthcare and support services.

We recognise the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to address the link between mental health and homelessness. Increased funding in social housing, health services and other support services is needed to address these issues. At WPH we will continue to expand and grow our social housing offering for women in London, providing safe and secure homes in today’s market.

 

 

Green light for women’s only social housing block
in Ealing, West London

 

  • New 15 storey tower for women’s only social housing gets planning permission from Ealing Council
  • Approved plans will deliver 102 new social rent flats to replace existing buildings and 39 homes on site
  • The new homes will be occupied by single women, particularly those who face inequality, abuse and disadvantages
  • The estate will be developed and managed by Women’s Pioneer Housing and supported by L&Q through their Build London Partnership programme for small housing associations

Brook House, a women’s only social housing estate in Acton, London, has recently secured planning permission from Ealing Council, for a new 15 storey tower to replace the existing building.


The approved plans will see the delivery of 102 100% social rent affordable flats for single women, particularly those who face inequality, abuse and disadvantages, especially in the housing market.


The application is supported by Women’s Pioneer Housing, who are only one of two such specialised housing associations in the country, and L&Q, one of the largest social housing provider in the UK.


The existing building is located on Gunnersbury Lane, opposite Acton Town underground station in Ealing, West London,
The original estate at Brook House was built in the 1930s, with additional homes and blocks built in the 70s, however many of these are now nearing the end of their build-life are not suitable for refurbishment. Moreover, the cost-of-living and energy crisis has made the need for this type of housing for women more important than ever.


The proposal is to replace the existing 39 flats, with 102, 100% social rent affordable flats for single women, for which there is a significant, strategic housing need. The proposed new flats will be for existing tenants wishing to return as well as for new ones. Works are expected to start on site as early as this summer.

The design of the scheme was also commended by the planning committee, as all flats have dual aspect and a balcony. The proposal’s landscape strategy also seeks to provide a range of recreational spaces for residents while enhancing biodiversity and greening.

With rising levels of inequality for women in the UK, particularly those who are older, have a disability or are BAME women, there is a huge existing demand for this type of housing. In Ealing alone there are over 600 single women on the social housing waiting list. Moreover, Women’s Pioneer Housing work closely with women’s refuges, homelessness agencies and women’s organisations to provide long term safe secure affordable homes for women.


The scheme is brought forward with support from L&Q, through their innovative scheme Build London Partnership (BLP), which seeks to find a tailored solution to London’s housing crisis. Through the BLP, L&Q partners with smaller or specialised housing associations to work in collaboration to develop small, disused, infill and challenging sites across the capital, while supporting our partners’ needs through a dedicated service. This helps unlock key sites in London and deliver much needed affordable and social housing, often for hard-to-reach communities.

Pioneer Press: The newsletter for residents of Women's Pioneer Housing

 

In this edition of Pioneer Press Tracey Downie, WPH Chief Executive sends a letter to all residents and shares her impressions of her first 6 months.

You can access and download this new edition as a PDF by clicking here: Pioneer Press Winter 2022

 

HUB, Bridges and Women’s Pioneer Housing secure permission for innovative mixed tenure scheme

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has granted consent for the redevelopment of a key site on Wood Lane. Through an innovative partnership between developer HUB, impact investor Bridges Fund Management and the specialist housing association Women’s Pioneer Housing (WPH), the project will deliver 60 new high-quality affordable homes for single women alongside a new head office for WPH. The AHMM-designed scheme in the rapidly transforming White City area of west London also comprises a substantial new co-living building with 209 apartments.

Tracey Downie, Chief Executive of Women’s Pioneer Housing, said: “I am delighted that we have reached this milestone. This development will almost double the number of affordable homes on this site. Each home will be spacious and built to very high standards, significantly improving our offer to women locked out of the London housing market. Through this partnership with HUB and Bridges Fund Management we are committed to delivering an exemplar scheme and creating a genuine community”.

New Wood Lane Development

Damien Sharkey, Managing Director at HUB, said: “At HUB we are committed to developing innovative models for housing that deliver genuine social value. This development will uniquely combine two different types of housing, providing single women the opportunity to live in excellent new affordable homes in a vibrant part of west London, alongside a new co-living community who will enjoy beautifully designed amenities within their building.”

Simon Ringer, Partner at Bridges Fund Management, said: “We’re delighted that we can press ahead with this innovative scheme, which will provide much-needed affordable homes via WPH, while also helping to address the clear shortage of high-quality co-living accommodation in London. We have been working hard with the community to design a scheme that will have a really positive impact on the local area – both in terms of housing, and the extensive public realm included as part of the plan.”

The building’s form primarily responds to the V-shaped site, with a tower at the corner providing co-living accommodation over 18 floors. Adjoining this, the lower seven-storey part of the building will feature WPH offices on the ground floor and 60 dual aspect one-bedroom WPH flats above, centred around a communal shared terrace. At the entrance on Wood Lane, there will be a publicly accessible café and gym.

The approved plans prioritise public realm, drawing in the existing green space to the north of the site, and creating a new level access route from Wood Lane to provide local residents and workers with a new legible route across the northern part of the site. The landscape designs include the introduction of extensive wildflower and perennial planting to create a biodiverse habitat throughout the year, as well as the retention and enhancement of existing vegetation, providing wildlife habitats along the verges of the neighbouring TFL tracks.

The office at ground level will provide a new headquarters for WPH, enabling the housing association to thrive and grow as an organisation.

In line with both organisations’ commitment to building strong communities, HUB and WPH developed the plans through widespread conversations with Women’s Pioneer tenants, the local community, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the GLA.

The site is ideally located immediately opposite the new Imperial North Campus and just north of the redeveloped BBC Television Centre. It currently consists of two buildings owned and operated by WPH, including 36 homes and the housing association’s head office.

HUB is a progressive developer delivering residential-led schemes across Greater London and the UK, with a total of 5,500 homes delivered or in the pipeline. Many of HUB’s projects are in partnership with Bridges Fund Management, a specialist sustainable and impact investor, with a focus on investing in high quality, lower cost housing in growth locations.

 

Cost of Living Support Hub 

We all experience the Cost of Living crisis in which the cost of everyday essentials like groceries and bills are rising faster than average household incomes.

Current inflation is being driven by rising energy costs, provoked by increased demand after the pandemic, along with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With inflation rising, we are seeing prices increase.

Member of Parliament for Kensington, Felicity Buchan has created an online Cost of Living Support Hub which you can access by clicking the following link.

Women’s Pioneer Housing Annual General Meeting 

We would like to thank Women’s Pioneer Housing Board members, staff and residents that attended the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 22nd June 2022.

We had the pleasure of hearing from Louise Wolfson, Board Vice-Chair and Chair of the Remuneration & Nominations Committee as she presented the key points included in our new Annual Report for 2021.

In her speech Louise highlighted the need for organisations that understand and champion women’s housing needs. In this sense, Women’s Pioneer Housing continues to be equally as relevant today as it was 102 years ago when it was founded. 

Women continue to earn less than men, on average, in Britain today. Women are more likely to work part-time or in precarious jobs due to them often taking the lead in caring responsibilities.

The provision of high quality homes and services is one of the key objectives of Women’s Pioneer Housing. Quality includes safety and we continue to strive to ensure that all our residents are housed in homes that meet the health and safety requirements established by the Regulator.

The importance of these ongoing requirements are at the heart of what we do and how we deliver it.

Our Board Vice-Chair also reviewed Women’s Pioneer Housing achievements, challenges and exciting plans for the future as well as welcoming Tracey Downie as Chief Executive.

If you wish to learn more about Women’s Pioneer Housing work and achievements you are welcome to download and read our full Annual Report by clicking here.