Purpose of the Hub

The Hub was established in 2017 to provide essential advice and support for communities across Sussex wishing to pursue successful community led housing projects.

Its aim is to increase the supply of community led housing, locally affordable homes, to meet housing needs in the areas covered by our partner local authorities.

We provide ongoing advice, support and guidance to groups to enable them to increase knowledge, develop the necessary skills and build capacity, to realise local housing development opportunities.

Click here for a summary of our services

Meet the Team

The Sussex Community Housing Hub Team

The Hub service was set up and is managed by Action in rural Sussex (AirS), an independent charity that exists for all people living in rural areas of Sussex, but especially those who are at risk of isolation and/or disadvantage, and for whom rural life brings an additional challenge and cost to their daily lives. Our specialist housing team comprises:

Tom Warder – Community Led Housing Manager 

Tom is our Community Led Housing Manager at AirS where he has overseen the work on over thirty five neighbourhood plans  across the region – including the first plan to pass a referendum in Sussex at Arundel.

He has enabled the delivery of 15 local needs affordable housing schemes across Sussex over the past ten years – a rural housing enabling service which evolved into the Sussex Community Land Trust Project in 2013 and the Sussex Community Housing Hub in 2017.

Tom provides technical support to a range of community led housing groups and projects from housing association partnerships to stand-alone                                                     CLTs.

Graham Maunders – Community Led Housing Advisor

Graham is our Community Led Housing Advisor, joining the team in September 2017 to help develop and deliver the Hub.

He has many years’ experience of working in housing – with local authorities, housing associations and community led regeneration programmes. Delivering a wide range of projects –including advice and support in relation to governance, strategy, management, development and community engagement.

Polly Eason – Community Led Housing Enabler

Polly has lived in Sussex since attending Sussex University and falling in love with the area. She has been involved in a number of successful community-led projects and social enterprises over the last 15 years with environmentally focused community-led housing projects being her main focus. Currently, Polly also works part-time as the Secretary and Project Administrator of the Coldean Community Organisation which is developing a community-led housing scheme and community centre on the outskirts of Brighton.

Other specialist AirS services include: 

  • Community and Neighbourhood Plans
  • Research & Policy
  • Village Agents Enabling
  • Village Halls and Community Buildings

Our Partners

The Hub has received funding from nine local authority partners across Sussex.

Please click the logo to go to the housing page on the local authority website.

    

The Hub – enabling Sussex community groups to develop truly affordable homes