New BCHs Diretor's vision for new Co-op Homes

Friday 5th February 2010

The new Director of co-operative housing organisation bchs today outlined his vision to help local people build low carbon communities which they control.

Carl Taylor, formerly Manager of Redditch Co-operative Homes, replaces Jon Stevens, who retired in December 2009 after more than a decade at the helm of Birmingham-based bchs community regeneration agency.

Carl has more than 20 years' of experience in housing, including 9 years at BCHS, and is a Master of Business Administration. He is regarded as a national authority and champion of resident-led and mutual housing and led the development of acclaimed low carbon co-ops in Redditch.

He said: "Jon left an incredible legacy. BCHS remains the only organisation providing services and support to communities that really own and control their neighbourhoods. Jon also oversaw national work on ground-breaking projects such as the Preston and Watford Gateway schemes giving local people the power to shape where they live.

"Moving forward, bchs will be building on that legacy by empowering communities in the Midlands and beyond to actually develop new housing which is low carbon and controlled by local people.

"In Redditch we demonstrated that housing co-operatives are a viable and mainstream model of community-led housing, creating the safe, sustainable and friendly neighbourhoods where people want to live.

"BCHS will be helping communities to shape their own destiny, whether by simply managing existing schemes or working towards new mutual development. This is a fantastic challenge I am really looking forward to it."

BCHS is the country's leading provider of co-operative housing services and as part of the Accord Group, the only major developer of new affordable homes for co-operatives.

It provides a range of models of new housing provision from Community Land Trusts, Mutual Home Ownership Societies and rented Housing Co-operatives, which are designed, managed and controlled by the residents of the properties. Low Carbon Housing is a particular specialism of BCHS.

BCHS is based in Tyseley and is part of the Accord Group of not-for-profit housing organisations.

Posted by 0 for Birmingham Co-op Housing Services Ltd. (BCHS)