After seven transformative years, Allia Future Homes is entering an exciting new phase. What began as an innovative modular housing project supporting people experiencing homelessness in 2018 has achieved its catalytic mission, and we’re delighted to announce that our work is now being carried forward by It Takes A City Community Land Trust in Cambridge.
From Vision to Reality
Since 2018, Allia Future Homes has created a remarkable track record of innovation in tackling homelessness. The initiative has delivered three successful modular housing schemes totalling 36 homes across Cambridgeshire and Essex, and inspired others. These include six housing units at Christ the Redeemer church in Barnwell managed by Jimmy’s Cambridge, and six homes in Wisbech that won the national Building Innovation Award for ‘Best Modular Build’. Allia Future Homes has also been working on projects across multiple cities including Chelmsford, and Peterborough, Bristol and Leeds. Our projects have assisted dozens of people who were previously experiencing homelessness to stabilise their lives, with many moving on to permanent housing, and the future schemes will build on this. An example of the catalytic effect is that Hill Residential funded one of the original homes in Cambridge and then went on to launch their own Foundation 200 programme to create 200 units around the country.
The recent completion of our Chelmsford “Turning Point” project (pictured above) with CHESS Homeless charity stands as a testament to what collaborative innovation can achieve – 24 new modular homes that will help 1,000 individuals transition from homelessness to independent living over the coming decades. The project which opened April 2025 has since been shortlisted for Inside Housing New Supported Community build award (rural/suburban) with the awards taking place autumn 2025.
Passing the Baton
Allia always intended the project to be catalytic at two levels: to make Cambridge a demonstrator of what is possible and to spread the principle nationally. Having established these foundations, we recognised that as Allia is not primarily a housing developer, the work would be better served by a specialist organisation.
The Community Land Trust (CLT) has already launched its first scheme of four homes in Cambridge with Allia input and is pursuing three more sites, with an ambitious goal to reach 100 homes in the next few years. We’re delighted that Aga Podgajna, a qualified architect, has joined the CLT as Development Lead to build the momentum further for greater impact on homelessness in Cambridge and beyond.
Farewell to Our AFH Team
This transition also marks the departure of our brilliant Allia Future Homes team. Daniel Renn, our Housing Development Lead, reflected on his time with us: “I genuinely think the Allia Future Homes initiative, started by Martin Clark, is one of the most promising ideas in social housing out there. Creating homes for those most in need by making use of underused land doesn’t just make sense – it changes lives. I’m incredibly grateful to have played a part in helping deliver the project alongside the brilliant Lewis Herbert, and I’m excited to see it grow even further under the new banner of the Community Land Trust.”
Lewis Herbert, our AFH Manager, shared similar sentiments: “Nearly three years working for Allia Future Homes creating supported modular communities with my dynamic teammate Daniel Renn and boss Martin Clark has been a real blast. In a lovely Allia team with real heart, delivery and commitment to help charities, businesses and people in great need. The Community Land Trust and their new Development Lead Aga Podgajna will continue our new communities work with three more planned in Cambridge, plus other city partnerships across England.”
Looking Forward
Whilst we’re sad to see Dan and Lewis move on to new adventures, we’re incredibly proud of what Allia Future Homes has achieved. The initiative has proven that modular supported housing communities can effectively support people experiencing homelessness – something that’s never been more needed than now, particularly for single isolated people wanting to rebuild their lives.
We look forward to supporting It Takes A City as they continue this vital work and expand the reach of supported modular housing communities. The foundation has been laid, the model proven, and the future looks bright for supporting people experiencing homelessness through innovative, collaborative approaches.
For more information about It Takes A City Community Land Trust, visit their website. To learn more about Allia’s ongoing work, visit www.allia.org.uk.
