Housing Associations

Acme Artists Studios Limited began life in 1972 as Acme Housing Association Limited. We are still constituted as a housing association and are members of the National Housing Federation. Acme’s aim to provide affordable studios for artists who cannot afford to rent space on the open market, fits closely with the aims of registered social landlords who provide homes for affordable housing.

In the 1970s, Acme was the largest single manager of short-life houses in London, providing affordable residential and studio space for hundreds of artists. Some examples of past partnership projects between Acme and other housing associations include:

• Circle 33 Housing Trust - short-life project, creating 19 studios.
  
• Family Housing Association - successful negotiations to ensure artists in Beck Road, Hackney achieved permanent status.
• Newlon Housing Trust - nine studios created in three houses.
• Solon Co-operative Housing Services - partnership resulting in three work/live apartments and 14 studios in Aldgate, two apartments and eight studios in Clerkenwell, four apartments in Bethnal Green and one in Whitechapel, nine work/live units in Stepney, and the development of the Sugar House work/live project.

Our most recent partnership project is with Swan Housing Group, at the Atelier, Leven Road, E14, the UK’s first 100 per cent affordable mixed-use project. The residential element of the project, managed by Swan, consists of 66 houses for rent and shared ownership. The ‘commercial’ element, managed by Acme, includes 21 purpose-built artists’ studios.

This model of development guarantees the housing association the sale and 100 per cent occupancy of the commercial element from day one. It also meets the section 106 requirements to continue employment use on the site and provide community benefit. The scheme ensures that local artists can continue to work in the area, providing links to the wider community.

Acme is currently working with Kensington Housing Trust (part of Catalyst Housing Group) to develop 12 studios at Harrow Road (opens 2010) and Genesis Housing Group to develop 15 studios at High Street Stratford (opens 2012).

For more information on Acme's partnership work with housing associations, contact:

David Panton, Director Property Development
Acme Studios
44 Copperfield Road,
Bow, London, E3 4RR
T 020 8981 6811
F 020 8983 0567
E mail@acme.org.uk