Commitment to 3,800 new homes strengthened

Eastlight has strengthened its commitment to building more affordable homes by welcoming a regional development partner into our business.

Iceni Homes has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eastlight Community Homes.

Emma Palmer, Chief Executive of Eastlight Community Homes, said: “ We are pleased to welcome the Iceni team into Eastlight’s inhouse development function, creating a substantial service with a wide range of skills and experience to support our plan to build 3,800 new affordable homes over five years.

“ Iceni has been a highly -valued and successful development delivery company for its partners for over 17 years. It will continue to play an important role as part of Eastlight.

The transfer of Iceni into Eastlight was completed on August  1 2021.

Alan Lewin, Chair of Iceni Homes, said: “ This decision will give Iceni a strong platform on which to grow and provide an enhanced range of development services to our current and future partners.”

Bury St Edmunds-based Iceni formed in 2004, to provide a unique partnership which enabled smaller housing associations to deliver affordable homes. Iceni also worked closely with a range of other housing stakeholders and was a development partner with Homes England.

Over the years Iceni has delivered 4,000 homes and contributed £2.5m in gift aid for reinvestment. In the last year alone Iceni-led schemes enabled 200 homes to be approved for development. On top of this work for its shareholders it has also delivered hundreds of homes with other partners.

Iceni’s managing director Philip Murton, who played a key role in the organisation’s success, has decided to leave after supporting the successful transition into Eastlight.