Barratt Redrow and community business charity Plunkett UK has announced a new three-year strategic partnership.
The partnership is founded on a shared ambition to ensure community is embedded at the heart of new housing developments through the creation of democratic, inclusive and sustainable businesses that are genuinely owned by local people.
The incorporation of Plunkett’s community business expertise into Barratt Redrow’s master planning and development process will help inform and shape the community infrastructure, as well as promote the potential of community-owned local assets and services at the homebuilder’s new and existing sites.
As a strategic partner, Plunkett UK will be available to participate in Barratt Redrow’s activities such as master planning and public meetings, and host local stakeholder focus groups and consultations as required.
Plunkett is the only organisation dedicated to supporting rural community-owned businesses UK-wide. With over 100 years of history, today the charity represents over 850 trading businesses, that employ a total of about 3,500 staff and have around 25,000 volunteers. These businesses contribute significantly to the UK economy, with 56p of every £1 spent with a community business staying in the local economy. Community-owned businesses, such as those in Plunkett membership, have a survival rate of 99% over five years and 94% over 20 years, demonstrating their resilience.
Harriet English, Deputy Chief Executive of Plunkett UK, said: “We are excited to begin this new partnership with Barratt Redrow, which is another milestone on our place-making journey that seeks to establish community businesses and assets within new-build developments.
“Barratt Redrow’s vision is aligned with our own – we both want to see resilient, thriving and inclusive communities. Plunkett has a proven track record in delivering better businesses for people, communities, the economy, and the environment, and we look forward to collaborating with Barratt Redrow in growing this work in future.”
David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Redrow, said: “We build homes and communities, rather than just houses and developments. This is why we are partnering with Plunkett to strengthen and improve the communities we deliver even more. By bringing in new businesses to our communities we will help make them more resilient, creating new job opportunities and making great places for people to both work and live in.”
Plunkett UK is a national charity with a vision for resilient, thriving and inclusive rural communities UK-wide. To achieve this, it supports people in rural areas to set up and run a wide range of businesses that are genuinely owned by local communities, whereby members have equal and democratic control.
For more information on Plunkett UK, please visit their website.