'We were given £10,000 off our new homes if we did one thing'

Delighted new homeowners have secured a £10,000 reduction on their property prices in exchange for helping to construct them. To earn the savings, they participated in activities including painting and decorating, landscaping, manual labour, administration, marketing and IT assistance.

The scheme resulted in 14 new three-bedroom houses costing between £190,000 and £197,500 being constructed, alongside 13 flats priced from £125,000 to £200,000 depending on bedroom count and dimensions. Buyers of the 27 properties at the housing association Prima Group development in Ince, Wigan, Greater Manchester, were required to complete 500 hours of 'sweat equity' to qualify.

Thrilled residents are now finally settling into their new homes after their dedicated efforts. Chloe Radcliffe, 28, has recently moved into her three-bedroom property after working alongside several relatives. She dedicated 14 months to assisting with groundwork, landscaping, general labour and decorating to secure her reduction.

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The beauty salon owner said: "My family and myself were brought up here and my two children attend St William's Catholic Primary School. I have a small business across the road from the development and I've been desperate to get onto the property ladder to provide security for my children.

"It's just not been possible to save for a deposit, but the sweat equity model has given me the chance as a single parent to realise my dream. Me, my mum, dad and sister loved working on my home and building a great little community with other people who did the same who are now my neighbours.

"It was bizarre to see each other in working boots and high vis vests, all with spades digging, but it was enjoyable and fun. Looking back at the pictures now, I think 'did we actually do that?'.

"But being able to do this scheme and getting £10,000 off my mortgage by doing 500 hours has helped me out massively to own my house, I'm proud of where it has got me. Knowing that you have actually worked on your house and then looking and thinking 'it's mine' - I can't explain how good it feels."

Fellow resident Racheal McCoy, 35, who works as a nurse and also in Chloe's salon, has similarly gained from the programme.

Racheal said: "I've lived in Ince all my life and my family are all local. We wanted to stay in the area because my daughter goes to school here, but we needed a three-bedroom home.

"Getting on the property ladder right now is really difficult and the mortgage payments would have crippled us. This scheme came along at the perfect time. The sweat equity model meant we could secure a safe home by working for it rather than needing to save for a deposit.

"Being involved in building my own home was amazing. It felt like we were building a community before we even got the keys."

The initiative was spearheaded by housing association Prima Group, working in collaboration with charity Housing People Building Communities (HPBC). The project utilised HPBC's "sweat-equity" model, which they claim "enables people to get on the property ladder".

It has been disclosed that 13 families participated in the scheme. The project resulted in the construction of 14 new homes on land generously donated by Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese to HPBC.

In addition, 13 flats were created by repurposing the unused St William's Church and Presbytery. All houses boast three bedrooms and prices range from £190,000 for a 90sqm unit to £197,500 for 95sqm units.

Flat prices vary between £125,000 and £200,000, depending on the number of bedrooms and size - though all flats exceed national space standard requirements. Prima dedicated the last two years to the project, receiving planning permission in early 2023 and completing construction in February 2025 after a 20-month build period.

To ensure the project's financial feasibility, Prima Group invested a hefty £4 million. This initial investment was bolstered by a £1.6 million grant from Homes England's Affordable Homes Programme and Brownfield Land funding through Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Home partners purchased stakes ranging from 10% to 75% in new properties, with the option to increase their share while paying rent on the remaining portion.

John Ghader, Chief Executive of Prima Group, said: "The sweat equity model is a great example of innovative thinking having a direct positive impact on local people who would otherwise have struggled to afford a deposit to get on the property ladder. It is also an alternative to the Bank of Mum and Dad. Instead of putting their hands in their pocket to help with a deposit – something not every parent can afford – some have got their hands on a shovel and contributed to their offspring's on-site sweat equity hours.

"By working side-by-side with their future neighbours, home-partners have built strong relationships with each other to create a sense of belonging which fosters a community spirit from the start. What we need now is greater understanding and flexibility from lenders about mortgage products like sweat equity so they can help more people.

"They need to review their stress testing criteria and treat shared ownership as a core housing product that taps into a significant segment of the market - a halfway house for those who can't access social housing nor afford outright homeownership with a full mortgage."

All housing partners had previously resided within four miles of the location, with 70% living within one mile and 90% employed locally in Ince. Students studying trades at Wigan and Leigh College also participated, gaining invaluable hands-on workplace experience.

An outdoor seating space for St William's Catholic Primary School, situated behind the development, was additionally constructed.

HPBC Chair, Reverend Dr Shannon Ledbetter, said: "The sweat equity model embodies hope and integrity, offering those in need a hand-up, not a handout. Inspired by the values of unity, support and helping others, we've provided affordable, accessible homes for those who might otherwise never have dreamt of it."