Case Study - Woodland Bank

Woodland Bank had previously been defined by tower blocks that had garnered a negative reputation for being unsafe. The site had suffered from a lack of community and inclusivity with housing inequality and anti-social behaviour both major issues

To have maximum impact, Incommunities needed to develop a solution that generated high quality housing, but to simultaneously ensure that new homes were affordable for the existing communities in what is a relatively affluent area of Bradford, where they might otherwise be priced out.

The demand for affordable homes in Bradford is high, and prioritisation for residents ensures those with strong connections to the community benefit first. 

Thanks to funding from Homes England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the £18.5m, 93-home development, scheme made it possible to create well-designed, energy-efficient, and spacious homes and apartments that meet the needs of the local community.

Outdated and unsafe high-rise housing was replaced with a modern, desirable community where residents can thrive.

Woodland Bank now offers well-designed, high specification homes that combine modern comfort with sustainability. High-quality flooring is provided in all wet areas, while contemporary kitchens offer both style and functionality. The houses have larger-than-average windows maximising natural light, framing views of the canal and woodland, connecting residents to nature.

The apartments benefit from spacious balconies, providing private outdoor space and further enhancing connection to nature. Thoughtful landscaping enhances the development, with bat and bird boxes and fruiting trees, fostering a connection with nature. Practical features include dedicated parking, front boundary walls, and EV charging points to every home, ensuring convenience and future-proofed living.

Situated near excellent transport links, Woodland Bank ensures accessibility with a choice of schools, and other nearby amenities.

The mixed-tenure approach, including Shared Ownership, Rent to Buy, and affordable rental homes, ensures inclusivity and diversity of affordable homes and new tenures to the Bingley area.

Woodland Bank’s affordability model includes an allocation of 48 homes for affordable rent, 35 for shared ownership, and 10 for Rent to Buy, ensuring accessibility of affordable housing across a degree of income brackets to meet the demand in the local area and address the shortfall set out within Bradford Council’s Housing Strategy.  

The positive feedback from tenants speaks to the profound impact that Woodland Bank has had on their lives, offering not just a new home but a renewed sense of community and stability.

Woodland Bank’s tenure mix promotes inclusivity, preventing social segregation while catering to diverse needs.

The development’s layout promotes interaction through shared landscaped green spaces, safe pedestrian routes, and play areas. By retaining and enhancing existing woodland, residents benefit from accessible green spaces that encourage outdoor activity and mental well-being.

The Neighbourhood Officer will undertake a quarterly walkabout of the estate with partners such as the police and local authority. This is to ensure our properties, open spaces and communal areas are being maintained to a good standard and that the neighbourhood is safe.

They also carry out a series of visits to new tenants within the first 12 months to check they are settling in. As part of this, the Neighbourhood Officer is able to signpost them to groups and services around Bingley which will help them engage more with the existing community.  

Public transport links and road access are excellent, ensuring connectivity to employment, education, and amenities, making Woodland Bank a desirable and convenient place for people to live.

Improved security measures, including advanced door entry systems and SBD-accredited features as well as careful design of passive surveillance, ensure residents feel safe.

The programme of regeneration has helped to eliminate the stigma previously associated with the area. The scheme also contributed to local job creation during construction, supporting economic sustainability.

According to a resident at 108 Crosley Wood Road:
“Getting this new house is a godsend, my 7-year-old son has had to share my bedroom since he was born so it will be so nice to have more space. It’s lovely being part of this community, on the first day after we signed the tenancy agreement we realised that my son goes boxing with one of the boys from further along the street. Having neighbours that we already know has really made the move easier for him. Am so happy to be able to move into such a nice new development.”

Another resident from 114 Crosley Wood said:
“I have been bidding for 7 years so it was great to finally get our own property and my 12-year-old son now has his own bedroom, I am a single dad. He is so happy now that he can be a normal teenager and have his own private space. To now get our own property has made so much difference and I really appreciate the help I got from the Money Matters Team getting me a bed and a cooker. My son already has a friend a couple of doors down who goes to the same boxing club and also as I was walking down the street just after the sign up I have another friend who has moved in a little while ago, it feels like such a lovely community that I have moved into I am truly grateful.”