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New homes and housing · Cambridgeshire

Council and Housing Partnerships in Ely

How can councils and housing associations partner with us in Ely?

If you are a council or housing association looking for new homes in Ely, there are several ways to work with Land to Homes. We can sell you completed homes on a site we control, bring forward land for a scheme you will own, build on your land under a design and build contract, or deliver the affordable homes a planning agreement requires.

Hand holding a house key in front of the open front door of a new brick homeEly · CB7

Talk to us about a partnership

Tell us about your organisation and the homes you need.

Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6248.

  • Private conversationsEvery arrangement documented
  • Land to homesLand, planning and construction
  • Housing partnersCouncils and housing associations
  • No public offerNothing here is an offer to invest
  • UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI

New homes around Ely

Ely sits about 25 miles south-east of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, in the CB7 postcode district. Nearby, we also cover Newmarket, March and Cambridge, all within 15 miles. Ely is in the East of England region of England.

When you register for Ely, you can choose one- and two-bedroom apartments, accessible and adaptable homes or homes for affordable rent. In England, where Ely sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).

Register for Ely and we will contact you if we bring homes forward nearby.

Why work with Land to Homes in Ely

Funding conditions in mind

We plan schemes around the conditions of the relevant funding programme, although grant is applied for and held by the council or provider.

Design and build

We design and build homes on land owned by a council or provider, to its specification and within its procurement rules.

Clear agreements

Every partnership is set out in a written agreement covering the programme, specification, payment stages and handover.

Land-led schemes

We bring forward land for a scheme the provider will own, which can be fully affordable where planning policy and funding allow.

The English system, as it applies in Ely

Affordable homes in Ely are usually funded through a mix of Section 106 contributions from market schemes and grant from Homes England's Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036, or from the Greater London Authority in London. Registered providers, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, own and manage most of them. Land to Homes can bring forward land and build homes for councils and housing associations, including homes for Social Rent.

In England, registered providers, including housing associations and for-profit providers, are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. Affordable homes are usually secured through Section 106 agreements, and grant is channelled through Homes England, or the Greater London Authority in London. Councils follow procurement rules and their legal duties on value when disposing of land or appointing partners.

Key rules in Ely
National planning policyNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance
In-principle consentOutline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later
Land registrationHM Land Registry
How a sale becomes bindingA land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry.

Questions about Council and Housing Partnerships in Ely

Can you build on land a council or housing association already owns?

Yes. Under a design and build arrangement, we design and construct homes on land the council or provider owns, to its specification and standards. Contracts follow the client's procurement rules, which may mean a framework, a tender or another compliant route. We discuss the approach early so the scheme fits the client's governance.

Do you talk to for-profit registered providers?

Yes. In England, both not-for-profit housing associations and for-profit registered providers can own affordable homes, and both are regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. We discuss affordable homes with any appropriately registered provider, subject to the council's requirements on who can take on the homes.

Who applies for grant funding for affordable homes?

Usually the housing association or council, because public grant for affordable housing is normally paid to them under programmes run by Homes England, the Greater London Authority, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government or, in Northern Ireland, the Housing Executive's Social Housing Development Programme. We plan schemes with the relevant funding conditions in mind.

What are Section 106 affordable homes?

They are affordable homes a developer must provide under a Section 106 agreement attached to a planning permission in England or Wales. The agreement sets the number, tenure and often the transfer terms, and the homes are usually sold to a registered provider. Scotland uses Section 75 agreements and Northern Ireland uses Section 76 agreements for similar purposes.

Are there new homes available in Ely now?

Not yet. Land to Homes has no homes available in Ely at the moment. You can register your interest for Ely, and we will contact you if we bring homes forward there or nearby.

Read more: Council and Housing Association Partnerships · Guide: How affordable and social homes are delivered across the UK

Council and Housing Partnerships elsewhere in Cambridgeshire

Own land that could take new homes?

Start with a free, no-obligation site appraisal. On option and promotion agreements we fund the planning work and pay your reasonable legal fees.

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