Representatives from government bodies, local councils and development partners gathered in the parish of Martlesham on 16 May to celebrate the opening of 47 new homes for local people in East Suffolk, providing much-needed affordable housing for the area. Hastoe Housing Association has worked in partnership with East Suffolk Council, Martlesham Parish Council and Homes England to deliver the new homes, which constitute Hastoe’s largest land-led development to date. All homes have been built to Hastoe’s New Build Standard, which substantially exceeds Building Regulation Standard. The homes include Future Homes Standard construction elements to reduce carbon emissions, and feature air source heat pumps, double glazing, LED lighting, increased insulation levels and electric vehicle charging points for every home. The development site also includes lots of open space and a small play area for residents. There is a newly created path and a 28-space car park to improve access to the nearby parish play park. Martlesham Parish Councillor Jane Hall said: “Martlesham Parish Council fully supports a vision for a well-integrated Martlesham community, containing a variety of well-designed housing types which meet the needs of residents of all ages and build on Martlesham’s strength as a welcoming, safe and peaceful place to live, with a strong sense of community. Developments such as this help to achieve this vision. We are delighted to welcome our new Hastoe residents and wish them every happiness as they move into their stunning new homes.” East Suffolk District Councillor Mark Packard said: “This is exactly the kind of affordable housing we need in Suffolk; excellent design and a high-quality finish. Once the residents have settled in, it will be important for them to build a community; I’m sure the Parish Council will help them to do this.” James Hick, Affordable Housing Delivery Manager at Homes England, said: “As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting stakeholders of all sizes to achieve their ambitions. It is great to see that funding from the Affordable Homes Programme has enabled this development and provided much-needed new homes in Martlesham.” Lindy Morgan, Hastoe Board Chair, said: “As our largest land-led development to date, Martlesham is a very special development for Hastoe. All 47 homes are energy efficient, built to an extremely high-quality finish and benefit from beautiful design which suits the local area. Hastoe’s commitment to this project is now to care for the homes and provide excellent services to our residents, long into the future.” Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, MP for Suffolk Coastal, was also able to visit the site and meet with residents later the same week. She said: “This development is a great example of the kind of truly affordable homes to rent and buy that we urgently need more of. It’s helping local people stay rooted in their community, and I was delighted to see the real difference it’s already making.” Works began on site in October 2023 and completions have taken place over a phased period. Development partners were architects Ingleton Wood, Rose Builders Ltd and employer’s agent Potter Raper. Hastoe invested £9,634,717 in the development, together with a £3,534,000 Homes England grant. In total, the development cost £13,168,717. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bromford Flagship has received the highest possible governance and viability ratings from the Regulator of Social Housing, following the formal completion of the merger between Bromford Housing Group and Flagship Housing Group earlier this year.   In its interim regulatory judgement published on 14 May 2025, the regulator confirmed a G1 rating for governance and a V1 rating for financial viability. These top-tier ratings reflect the regulator’s assessment that Bromford Flagship has robust governance arrangements in place, complies fully with the Governance and Financial Viability Standard, and possesses the financial strength to manage a wide range of adverse scenarios.   The regulator’s judgement follows an in-depth review of documentation provided since the merger, which completed on 28 February and takes into account the strong regulatory track records of both legacy organisations – Bromford previously held a G1/V1 rating, while Flagship had achieved G1/V2.   Heather Richardson, Chief Risk Officer, said: “This rating reflects the robust foundations we’ve built as a newly merged organisation. It recognises the strength of our governance and financial planning, which are vital to enabling our teams, customers and communities to thrive.”  The G1/V1 outcome signals confidence in Bromford Flagship’s ability to maintain compliance and deliver on an ambitious long-term strategy. Additionally, the merger has created a financially robust organisation with the capacity to invest £4bn in new homes during this Parliament.   This positions Bromford Flagship to deliver 2,000 new homes every year for the next 30 years, with an ambition that 50% will be at social rent – making the organisation the largest builder of new social homes. This aligns with national housing ambitions and supporting the organisation’s commitment to tackling the housing crisis at scale.  Receiving top regulatory ratings reaffirms Bromford Flagship’s capacity to balance financial resilience with social impact, ensuring that its growth is underpinned by strong governance and a clear focus on long-term value for residents. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Great progress is being made at Yorkshire Housing’s latest affordable housing development in Beverley, thanks to a partnership with Strata and Summers-Inman. The first homes at the much sought after Anthem development have been made watertight, marking a significant milestone for the project. With demand for affordable housing higher than ever, the development, which is situated off Minster Way, will see a total of 136 homes built across a mixture of tenures, including social rent, shared ownership and rent-to-buy. It’s hoped the first homes will be ready to move into this summer. Part-funded by Homes England, the development is part of Strata’s Anthem project, with Summers-Inman providing cost consultancy and employer’s agent support.  Summers-Inman has a strong track record with Yorkshire Housing, having worked on a number of previous developments. The company is also involved in several other much needed affordable housing projects across the North of England, supporting developments of all sizes.  Commenting on progress at the Beverley site, Summers-Inman director and specialist housing lead, David Blakey, said: “We were delighted to win this latest project which will make a substantial contribution to easing the affordable housing shortage in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and at the same time creating communities with a real sense of belonging. “We have been able to develop a highly effective working relationship with Yorkshire Housing over many years on schemes throughout the region. Clients appreciate the innovation and expertise we can bring to projects which we have gained on a variety of housing projects working in the capacity of employer’s agent, quantity surveyor, project manager and principal designer, all of which are all familiar territory for us. We hope we will be able to provide our expertise on many more Yorkshire Housing schemes in the future.”  Yorkshire Housing has ambitious plans to build homes in the coming years. So far, almost 3,500 have already been completed, with another 1,200 in the pipeline. Their focus is on providing high-quality, affordable and sustainable developments to make sure more people have a place they’re proud to call home. Sian Webster, executive director of growth and assets at Yorkshire Housing, said: “We’re excited to see our Beverley development come to life and to be working with Strata with support from Summers-Inman to deliver much-needed affordable homes in the area. Demand for high-quality, energy-efficient housing is high, and this project is a great example of what strong partnerships can achieve. “At Yorkshire Housing, we’re committed to building homes that are both affordable and sustainable. We’re looking forward to welcoming the first residents in summer and continuing to work with our partners to tackle the housing crisis in Yorkshire.” Rob Larkin, pre-construction director at Strata, added: “It’s great to be working on another contract with Yorkshire Housing, a valued partner of Strata, to deliver much needed affordable housing to the Beverley area. We believe modern, energy efficient homes should be accessible to anyone, regardless of tenure and this partnership is another important step towards this for the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Three leading North East contractors have joined forces with Sunderland-based housing association Gentoo in a landmark £170 million deal to modernise thousands of homes across the city. Esh Construction, Re:Gen Group North East, and PHS Home Solutions (trading as 0800 Repair) have partnered with Gentoo to launch Gentogether—a long-term strategic alliance focused on improving customers’ homes and creating meaningful social value in the region. The internal modernisation contracts, valued at £170 million over the next decade, will see significant upgrades to properties, including electrical rewires and the replacement of kitchens and bathrooms. In the first three years alone, around £36.5 million will be invested to refurbish approximately 3,000 homes. At the heart of the Gentogether initiative is a community-first approach that prioritises customer experience and collaboration. By removing competition between contractors and fostering shared goals, the model is designed to enhance service delivery and long-term impact. The partnership is also projected to generate over £32 million in social value during its lifespan, supporting job creation, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for local people. Gentoo has appointed 4i Solutions as contract consultant to ensure best value is achieved throughout the programme. Peter Akers, Gentoo’s Asset Director, said:“To improve our service to customers, we’re launching Gentogether—a unique approach to partnerships that allows us to collaborate openly and transparently with trusted contractors. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about investing in people, skills, and our communities. Our customers will benefit from upgraded homes, and the wider region will see real economic and social gains. I’m genuinely excited about what this partnership will deliver.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has praised a regional housing association for its ongoing programme of home energy upgrades, highlighting the role this work plays in tackling poverty, cutting household bills, and building a greener future.  Mayor McGuinness said: “I am committed to making the North East the home of real opportunity. To do that we must support the thousands of families across our region who are struggling with fuel poverty and make sure everyone has a warm home they’re proud of.   “That’s why it’s great to see organisations like believe housing building sustainable homes and making thousands of energy upgrades to houses in the North East, helping their customers keep more money in their pockets.   “As Mayor, I will scale up our retrofitting industry with more jobs, reinforcing our region as a leader in green energy. That will mean skilled green jobs for local people, upgrading homes across our communities.”   The Mayor made the comments during a visit to believe housing, a not-for-profit landlord which manages more than 18,000 homes across the North East.  During her visit, leaders outlined believe housing’s ongoing work to improve existing homes — which includes ensuring every property meets at least an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C which makes them warmer, greener and more affordable to heat for residents.   And they spoke about its delivery of about 200 high-quality, energy-efficient new homes a year, where they are most needed.   This work is central to believe housing’s commitment to providing healthy, affordable homes and goes hand in hand with a wide range of support services for customers and communities, including employability programmes, welfare benefits advice, and community grant funding.  Mayor McGuinness also heard how long-term investment in social housing is helping to create green jobs and boost local economic growth.   She met representatives from RE:GEN Group, believe housing’s delivery partner for energy improvement works, who said that visible, ongoing investment gives them the confidence to grow their skilled workforce — enabling them to continue delivering upgrades and support the region’s transition to a greener economy.  As part of her visit, the Mayor met believe housing customer Val Singleton at her home in Crook, which recently benefited from improvement and decarbonisation works, including a new roof with solar panels and enhanced loft insulation.  Val’s home is one of 3,477 believe housing homes to receive energy efficiency upgrades, part-funded by the government.  “It was lovely to meet Val, whose home is one of many that have already been fitted with energy efficiency upgrades, including solar panels and insulation, not only making her home warmer, but reducing her heating bills too,” said the Mayor.  “We are already making it easier for people in County Durham to get the advice they need to reduce their bills.   “I am working closely with the industry to increase the supply of sustainable social housing, and retrofit more homes across the North East to help more people, like Val, save on their energy bills.”   Alan Smith, Chief Executive of believe housing, said: “We welcome the opportunity to show the Mayor some of our work and to talk about how it supports her missions for the region — creating a stronger, fairer economy, generating job opportunities, tackling poverty, and advancing green energy.  “We also discussed the wider challenges facing the social housing sector and how we can work together with the North East Combined Authority, through the North East Housing Partnership, to do even more to make our region a better place to live and work.”  The North East Housing Partnership is a group of social housing providers and local authorities, working together to support the North East Mayoral Combined Authority to deliver a comprehensive housing plan for the region that drives inclusive economic growth through the delivery of new homes, supports net zero and skills, and helps residents live healthier lives.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The latest phase of the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate in south London has reached its highest point. The occasion was marked yesterday by members of the community coming together with representatives from Notting Hill Genesis, Southwark Council, the GLA and The Hill Group to see the last of the concrete being laid at the top of the block, which is due to be completed next year. This milestone shows Notting Hill Genesis’s ongoing commitment to providing safe, comfortable and quality homes for both existing and new residents. At the heart of this project is Notting Hill Genesis’s dedication to growing and investing in the community to make sure they are part of the regeneration. Chairs of the residents’ associations and other key local figures joined the ceremony, which was followed by a tour of the hoarding displaying residents’ artwork, chosen through a local art prize competition. Notting Hill Genesis has been working in partnership with Southwark Council since 2014 on the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate. Together they have already delivered over 700 homes, of which 85% are social rent, alongside a new library and health centre. The latest phase, known as FDS C, will have shared ownership, private sale and market rent homes alongside social rent. The next phase of homes, phase 2b, is currently in planning and should provide a further 640 homes, half being affordable. Matthew Cornwall-Jones, chief homes officer at Notting Hill Genesis, said: “I’m so proud to see this latest milestone. We have been working on the regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate for over a decade and it’s great to celebrate its progress alongside members of the community today. “I want to say a huge thank you to our dedicated partners. We are excited to see the continued growth and positive impact this area will have for years to come. “We are committed to this regeneration and working with existing residents to make sure the new homes and spaces meet their needs.” Cain Peters, managing director for special projects at The Hill Group said: “Reaching this important “topping out” milestone at the Aylesbury Estate highlights Hill’s long-standing commitment to building safe, comfortable, and high-quality housing for vital regeneration projects. “We hope residents will enjoy the new community centre, health centre and library for many years to come and we now looking forward to completing this project August 2027.” Councillor Helen Dennis, Southwark’s cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development, said: “I’m really pleased to celebrate this milestone with our partners Notting Hill Genesis as the renewal of the Aylesbury continues to transform lives on the estate with brand new high-quality homes. “The Aylesbury Estate renewal has made huge progress over the last year with hundreds of new council homes delivered on the First Development Site, as well as a new community centre, health centre and library for residents to enjoy. I look forward to seeing this phase completed with residents moving in and enjoying their new homes.” Tom Copley, deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: “I’m delighted to celebrate this milestone in the regeneration of Aylesbury Estate, along with our partners at Notting Hill Genesis, Southwark Council and The Hill Group. “Backed by funding from the Mayor of London, Aylesbury Estate represents a bold vision for the future of housing in south London. With 700 new, high-quality homes – 85 per cent of which are at social rent – and new state-of-the-art community facilities, this development is an exciting example of how we are creating a better and fairer London for everyone.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals