Optima Voted Housing Association of the Year
Optima Community Association has achieved national recognition for its work to regenerate the Attwood Green estate in central Birmingham and provide help to those hit by the recession.
Winner of the Housing Association of the Year category in the prestigious Regeneration and Renewal awards presented by Alastair Campbell, the judging panel felt that the innovative approaches demonstrated by Optima in tackling the downturn, along with a number of successful projects it completed during the past year, made it a worthy winner.
Judge Steve Mather, neighbourhoods director at Places for People said, “Impact is the key criterion for this award and impact is what Optima has delivered.”
Simon Kimberley, Chief Executive for Optima said: “We’re delighted to have won this major award as we celebrate our 10th anniversary.
“It highlights how our approach has been successful in sustaining the momentum of the physical regeneration whilst providing support to help residents and future homeowners manage financially.”
Projects that impressed the judges included Optima’s bid from the government’s £200m grant fund to buy unsold stock from developers hit by the slow down in the property market.
With the funding Optima purchased 84 one and two bedroom apartments at Park Central from Crest Nicholson supported by £4.2m in funding from the Housing Corporation. The properties, in three apartment blocks overlooking parkland, will became part of Optima’s affordable housing portfolio in Birmingham, consisting of over 2,000 homes.
The funding will also enable Optima to realise its objective to build over 900 homes by 2015 and tackle the growing demand for affordable homes across the city. 530 homes have been built since 2001 with a further 197 to be delivered by October 2009.
The association’s innovative Flexibuy scheme has enabled future homeowners to save towards their mortgage deposit while renting their future home from the landlord.
Simon Kimberley said: “We were the first in the social housing sector to introduce this type of financial product and our latest shared ownership scheme in Cotteridge, south Birmingham, has been bucking the trend with houses being bought off plan.”
The scheme of 40 houses has transformed a derelict factory site which once attracted anti-social behaviour that blighted local residents’ lives.
Working with Birmingham City Council and the local credit union to deliver financial advice and support to those most at risk during the economic downturn, Optima’s money advisor has helped over 1,000 residents and brought in over £3 million in additional benefits and income.
Last updated: 05-10-2009
