Leading housing association Bromford has invested in a state-of-the-art piece of cleaning equipment as part of its commitment to creating cleaner, safer communities. This advanced, hand-held tool will allow the housing association to quickly and efficiently tackle stubborn marks on walls and floors, even in hard to reach areas. The investment is particularly welcome in areas like Staple Hill, where concerns about anti-social behaviour have been raised by customers and where Bromford’s place-based approach is currently in action. Launched in August, the place-based approach brings together a team of neighbourhood coaches, engineers, and landscapers to collaborate and address local issues swiftly and effectively. By enabling teams to test new solutions, this approach has strengthened Bromford’s ability to respond to customer feedback and improve neighbourhoods. Kevin Johnson, Cleaning, Waste and Pest Control Programme Manager, highlighted the importance of this investment, saying, “This is a significant investment for us and will bring cleaning into the 21st century. We’re taking back lots of the services that would normally be contracted out, so we get more value for money and more control over what we do. It also gives colleagues the chance to train so they can progress through the cleaning directorate.” Bringing cleaning services in-house is expected to deliver faster response times and higher-quality outcomes. Beyond its practical benefits, the new machine underlines Bromford’s dedication to enhancing the overall appearance of its communities, reducing anti-social behaviour, and meeting the needs of its customers. As Bromford continues to roll out its place-based approach, this investment will play a key role in maintaining and improving homes and neighbourhoods, contributing to safer, more welcoming environments for everyone. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Sovereign Network Group (SNG) has completed the first homes built to its pioneering Homes and Place Standard at Moonhill Rise in Exeter. These groundbreaking properties exemplify SNG’s vision for sustainable, future-proof living and set a new benchmark for residential development in the UK. The Homes and Place Standard is a market-leading framework developed to assess quality and ensure every project prioritises sustainability, health, wellbeing and community creation. SNG designed Moonhill Rise to inform what “good” looks like across all its projects, both existing homes and new schemes, allowing further analysis to improve the home and place for SNG customers. It drives the approach to quality, urban design and SNG’s range of house types, and is now embedded across the organisation at all levels, from new build to retrofit. All new build properties designed under the Homes and Place Standard follow a fabric-first approach, specifying the most environmentally friendly materials and technologies to minimise energy usage. The first homes at Moonhill Rise are part of a new portfolio of standard house and apartment types that have delivered greater than 75% carbon reduction, meeting the forthcoming requirements of the Future Homes Standard. The homes are therefore warmer when required, healthier, cheaper to run and better for the customers’ environment. Moonhill Rise includes 33 Shared Ownership homes in a range of two, three, and four-bedroom house types. From the outset, all elements of the design were benchmarked against a set of demanding measures that include energy efficiency, cost-of-living, connectivity, health and wellbeing. The result is properties designed with the needs of modern living in mind, exceeding national space standards, designed for adapting living arrangements and providing generous storage to ensure both comfort and practicality. The homes feature large windows that allow more natural light to the interiors, contributing to a sense of well-being and creating uplifting living spaces. Rolling out the implementation of the Homes and Place Standard comes at a transformative time for SNG. The group, which was formed from the merger of Sovereign Housing Association and Network Homes in October 2023, delivered 2,100 homes in 2023/4 and has set the ambitious target of delivering 25,000 homes by 2033.   Richard Young, Technical Director at Sovereign Network Group, commented: “The completion of the first homes built to the Homes and Place Standard at Moonhill Rise is a proud milestone for Sovereign Network Group and a testament to our commitment to raising the bar in housing design and quality. By putting customer needs at the heart of our work, we’re not just building homes, we’re building better futures for our residents and the communities they live in.” Sustainability has been embedded into every aspect of these new homes. They are constructed from timber frame and equipped with solar panels, air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points, making them highly energy efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition to focusing on individual homes, the development has been designed to foster community connections, with thoughtfully planned communal spaces including local play areas, encouraging interaction among residents. New residents Chirag and Zeel Shah who recently moved into their new homes at Moonhill Rise commented: “The attention to detail in these homes is like nothing we’ve seen before. Our home feels so spacious and the large windows bring in so much light, something we’ve been particularly grateful for this winter. The Shared Ownership option also made owning a home like this possible for us, which is amazing.” The Homes and Place Standard is now embedded across SNG, informing every decision from urban design to individual building specifications. By setting a benchmark for quality and liveability, SNG ensures its developments will remain places people are proud to call home. The standards will continue to evolve over time, ensuring that SNG continues to build places that truly work for people. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Building work is officially underway on the second phase of Aspire Housing’s £20 million regeneration project in Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Silkworks at Cross Street will provide a collection of 43 new homes, including one-bed apartments and two-bed and three-bed affordable homes to rent. Dan Gray, Executive Director of Place at Aspire Housing, said: “It’s fantastic to see work starting on the aspirational new Silkworks development at Cross Street. “This second phase of the Chesterton and Crackley regeneration programme builds upon the exciting journey we started in 2018, when we first met with residents and put forward plans to transform the housing offer in the area. “We were delighted to introduce 9 new homes in 2022 upon completion of the first phase, and now we’re looking forward to seeing the Chesterton community continue to grow and thrive as we prepare to build 43 new affordable homes to benefit local residents for generations to come.” Keon Homes has been appointed to construct the Silkworks scheme, with work already taking place to clear the site and prepare for the new homes. Matt Beckley, Partnerships Director at Keon Homes, commented: “It’s great news to get underway on phase two of Cross Street in Chesterton, building on the successful delivery of a previous nine bungalow scheme we completed for Aspire Housing. “The latest development will involve the construction of 43 homes, consisting of a mix of high quality one-bed apartments, along with two and three-bed properties. Importantly, it also continues momentum on a larger scale regeneration project in an area that badly needs affordable housing.” This project has been part-funded by Homes England and Newcastle Town Deal as part of a joint partnership journey to transform the area. The development is due to be completed in early 2026, creating sustainable homes for local people. The third phase of this project is currently in development, with planning applications approved. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bromford has entered a new partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Citizen Housing, Green Square Accord, Midland Heart, and whg, to address the growing need for affordable homes in the West Midlands.  The Homes for the West Midlands LLP partnership represent a dedicated effort to accelerate housing delivery, increase affordability, and support sustainable community growth across the region.  Bromford and its partners will work closely with WMCA to identify strategic sites and opportunities to develop genuinely affordable homes that meet the needs of local people.   For Bromford, this partnership aligns with its mission to build strong communities and provide safe, affordable housing. On 18 October, Chief Executive Robert Nettleton joined fellow CEOs and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, to celebrate the launch of the new partnership. The event took place at LoCal Homes, an award-winning offsite housing manufacturing facility in Walsall.   Robert Nettleton, CEO of Bromford, said “ This marks a significant step forward in tackling the housing challenges our region faces. By collaborating with WMCA and fellow housing associations, we’re able to take a more unified approach to identifying sites, accelerating the development of affordable homes, and addressing specific local needs with greater impact. This partnership offers a unique platform to pool our knowledge, resources, and strategic insights to deliver affordable homes that truly meet the needs of our communities.” Highlighted in Bromford’s recent mid-year trading update1, with turnover rising to £167 million and significant investments in both new developments and existing homes, Bromford is well-positioned to support the affordable housing vision of this collaboration. Managed by consultancy firm Integer Advisory Ltd, the partnership is structured to focus on effective, results-driven development, including adopting innovative building techniques like modern methods of construction (MMC) and modular housing. These homes are constructed in factory-controlled environments and then assembled on-site, enabling the delivery of energy-efficient, low-carbon housing more quickly and at lower costs.  The first project for the partnership will be a 100% affordable housing development on a former industrial site in the Black Country, reflecting the groups dedication to repurposing land in a way that supports community needs and sustainable growth.  The partnership also provides a solid framework for developing and implementing the region’s Affordable Homes Programme, which will be devolved from Homes England to the WMCA in 2026. This transition will give Bromford and its partners greater influence in shaping housing priorities, ensuring that affordable housing projects are well-suited to meet the demand across the West Midlands.  At present, 64,000 people are on the region’s housing waiting list, with over 6,500 households, including 13,000 children, residing in temporary accommodation. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has made housing one of his top priorities, setting a goal of 2,000 social rent homes per year until 2028 to reach a total of 20,000 new affordable homes by the end of the decade. Bromford is ready to support this vision, bringing both its expertise and commitment to sustainable construction practices to the forefront of regional development efforts.  As the country’s biggest builder of social rent homes2, Bromford is already committed to expanding affordable housing options. This new partnership strengthens Bromford’s ability to deliver affordable homes at scale across the West Midlands, supporting community needs and sustainable growth. Bromford believes this collaborative approach will provide a robust response to the housing crisis, allowing resources and expertise to be pooled for maximum impact. This united effort will accelerate the delivery of high-quality, affordable homes across the West Midlands and enable Bromford to continue building homes and communities where people can thrive. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading housing association Bromford has today announced a strong set of financial results for the six months to September 2024 with the publication of its mid-year trading update.  The results show another period of robust financial performance for the Tewkesbury-based housing association which continues to invest in its existing homes and provide new affordable, energy efficient homes.  Key highlights:  Chief Finance Officer Paul Walsh added: “We are pleased to report another strong set of financial results for the six months ending 30 September 2024.  “Like the rest of the sector, we have faced persistent cost pressures and increased demand for our repairs and maintenance services. In the first six months of the year we have invested £34m in our existing homes to respond to this demand and significantly reduce our repairs backlog. We are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for our customers whilst also maintaining financial discipline and have maintained our social housing operating margin at the leading edge of the sector at 34%.”  After being named the country’s biggest builder of social rent homes1, Bromford has continued to invest in its development programme and has completed 457 new homes during the past six months, of which 220 were for social rent. Bromford’s in-house construction team built 53 of the completed homes and is forecast to finish another 170 in the second half of the year. The housing association also completed 108 shared ownership homes and four for outright sale.  During the six months to September 2024 Bromford published its first results against the regulator’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures. Bromford collected data from customers during their annual conversation with their neighbourhood coach, with more than 10,000 customers taking part.  Chief Customer Officer Paul Coates said: “Our coaching model is unique; it seeks to build a strengths-based relationship rather than a one size fits all and encourages connections between customers, neighbours and communities.  “Ninety-three percent of customers not only know their neighbourhood coach but over 88% of customers would recommend them. This investment provides us with a great platform to deliver from and we know it delivers results – including sector leading figures on customer advocacy, 90%, and against the regulator’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures we score 83% on customer satisfaction, marking us out as a top 20% performer.”  During the six months to the end of September 2024 Bromford raised an additional £200 million through a new sustainable finance deal with NatWest, with targets linked to reducing the intensity of its Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions and building new homes for social rent. It also retained its sector-leading credit ratings of A+ and A2 from S&P and Moody’s respectively.  Matthew Rose, Director of Treasury, said: “We expect to return to the market for new funding over the coming year and have significant capacity for additional borrowing. We will aim to strengthen and develop relationships with existing investors and continue to explore opportunities to diversify funding streams, especially as the merger with Flagship creates one of the strongest UK housing associations.”  In June 2024 Bromford announced its intention to merge with Norwich-based Flagship Group in 2025, to create an 80,000-home housing association and to enable additional development capacity to deliver new homes on a larger scale. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The North East region of Lovell has been appointed to Beyond Housing’s Development Contractor Framework. The arrangement means that the developer, which has its headquarters in Houghton le Spring, is in a prime position to bid for construction contracts worth more than £3 million with the affordable housing provider. Beyond Housing is one of the largest registered housing providers in the North East and North Yorkshire, which currently provides 15,000 homes to 30,000 customers. The organisation has a development strategy to develop or acquire 2,750 homes by 2030. Contracts awarded under the four-year framework will predominantly be for affordable new-build houses, flats and bungalows but may also include conversion/remodelling contracts, associated public realm works, buildings associated with sustainable neighbourhoods and commercial small-scale enterprise and regeneration projects. Phil Jones, Head of Land and Partnerships at the North East region of Lovell, said: “Our selection for Beyond Housing’s Development Contractor Framework is testament to our understanding of the construction market, housing for sale, intermediate and social housing and ability to assist in the delivery of projects on time and to budget. In addition, we have the expertise, the demonstrable skills and experience of delivering large, often phased, projects of this nature. “As one of the most experienced new-build contractors in the UK, we have been building for the affordable housing sector for more than 50 years. Whether for housing associations or local authorities, we are the partner of choice for many clients and are very pleased to have been selected as a preferred supplier to bid for construction contracts by Beyond Housing. “This exciting new relationship clearly demonstrates the potential that we have here within the team at the North East region of Lovell to grow and to expand our level of operations across the region.”  Karen Howard, Development Manager at Beyond Housing, said: “The framework is a strategic partnership between Beyond Housing, Broadacres Housing Association, and North Star Housing Group. “The organisations will manage the framework together, sharing their expertise to deliver high-quality housing and development projects. Each association will tender their contract opportunities through its own procurement portal, making the process clear and open to all, while encouraging new ideas from development partners. “Beyond Housing is excited to collaborate with Lovell as we work to deliver our ambitious development programme of affordable rent and low cost home ownership options, together with our outright sales programme through our sales subsidiary Viola Homes. We look forward to utilising Lovell’s extensive experience to help us create thriving communities that meet the diverse needs of our customers.” To find out more about Lovell, visit: https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals