Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has announced a £19 million deal to bring 77 affordable apartments to Nottinghamshire in partnership with Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. Work on the apartments, which will include access to communal
One of the Midlands largest housing associations is a finalist in a leading awards scheme. Platform Housing Group has been shortlisted in the inaugural ACT Diversity and Sustainability Awards, in the Sustainability Award Large Corporate category. The awards – which are organised by The Association of Corporate Treasurers – recognise
Rother DC Housing Company (RDCHC) is delighted to announce its success in securing affordable homes for local people at its flagship Blackfriars’ site in the heart of Battle, East Sussex. The news follows a unanimous decision at Rother District Council’s Full Council Meeting on Monday 29th July to give RDCHC the green light to progress the delivery
Wates has been appointed by one of the UK’s foremost not-for-profit housing groups, Orbit, to undertake a retrofit programme for 410 homes over two years, marking the start of a long-term partnership to help decarbonise Orbit’s homes. The appointment will see Wates deliver energy efficiency improvements to 160 homes through
For the fourth year in a row, the ‘Our Teviot’ summer festival has yet again drawn together hundreds of residents in Poplar for a day of celebration and fun. The annual festival, with roots that originally go back to the 1970s, is one of a string of events arranged by
The UK’s leading social enterprise, Places for People, in partnership with Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure affordable homes, is set to build 90 new affordable homes in Bierly, Bradford. The site – Woodlands Edge – in Bierley, a suburb of Bradford, will provide areas of new open
Leading regional housing association Bromford has retained its A+ stable credit rating from S&P Global Ratings. S&P highlighted Bromford’s “solid management expertise”, “prudent cost planning and financial headroom”, and “very strong liquidity” as key factors in their decision to maintain the A+ stable rating. The agency carried out its latest
Social housing provider A2Dominion is pursuing a new approach to property development, as part of a raft of changes being brought in by the Board and Executive Management Team. Going forward the 38,000-home housing association will focus on regeneration and the redevelopment of neighbourhoods which need the greatest amount of
A new affordable housing development has been officially opened in a Cotswold village. Gloucestershire-based housing association Bromford has completed the redevelopment of 14 former properties with 17 modern, energy efficient homes at Cross Tree Crescent in Kempsford. The new homes, which have all been let at social rent, the lowest
Scott Black, Chief Operating Officer for Places for People. “Today’s statement from the Chancellor has our unequivocal support, we need more new homes and there is no time to waste. This is one of the most pressing issues for the UK, for economic growth, for families across the UK, and
Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has announced a £19 million deal to bring 77 affordable apartments to Nottinghamshire in partnership with Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life. Work on the apartments, which will include access to communal areas and landscaped gardens, will start imminently, addressing the strong demand for later living in the area. The new development from Vistry Group and Anchor, built on brownfield land, will consist of one and two-bedroom apartments and is located in Edwaltong to the south of Nottingham and the River Trent. Edwalton is an area of West Bridgford and boasts some of Nottinghamshire’s most exclusive properties. Andy Reynolds, managing director of Vistry South East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be working with Anchor to build beautifully designed assisted living apartments for the affordable market.” “We’re excited to be leading the way in meeting the requirements of those needing this type of accommodation when housing is in such high demand. These much-needed new homes will be built to an exceptional standard to create a thriving and sustainable community.” Victoria Mager, director of development delivery at Anchor, said: “The development at Edwalton will offer residents the opportunity to be part of an open, inviting, and warm community. We’re looking forward to work starting in the next month and offering the opportunity for people to enjoy living in later life.” “This new community will deliver much-needed accommodation for older people in the local area. We anticipate delivering an average of at least 500 homes a year over a rolling ten-year period. This is in addition to growing the number of homes we provide in residential care.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of the Midlands largest housing associations is a finalist in a leading awards scheme. Platform Housing Group has been shortlisted in the inaugural ACT Diversity and Sustainability Awards, in the Sustainability Award Large Corporate category. The awards – which are organised by The Association of Corporate Treasurers – recognise the outstanding organisations and individuals who have championed positive change in diversity and sustainability in the treasury profession. The winners will be unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday 16 October at The View in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London. Jessica Friend, Group Corporate Finance Director at Platform Housing Group said: “To be shortlisted at this year’s awards is extremely well deserved for the team. As an organisation we have gone above and beyond in embracing sustainability finance in various forms and implementing innovative initiatives that move us further forward in our sustainability journey. Our Treasury team has been instrumental in our commitment to addressing the challenges our people, places and business are facing in relation to climate change, ecological demands and social pressures. We wish them – and everyone at the awards – the very best of luck!” Platform Housing Group’s award entry focussed on its ambitious targets for improving the energy efficiencies of its homes; a series of social value initiatives including its Wellbeing Fund which targets those customers who are most in need with essentials such as food, clothing, beds and white goods; the Fund allocated £1.1m to help approximately 3,500 customers during the year. Jessica concluded: “During the year we issued our second sustainability bond which will fund development of new affordable housing that qualifies as ‘green buildings’, having one of the highest Energy Performance Certificate ratings of A or B. In doing so we are directly contributing towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The bond was a benchmark sized £250m deal issued from our EMTN programme, attracting the tightest credit spread for the sector in more than 4 years at 83bps. This complemented £275m sustainability linked revolving credit facilities arranged earlier in the year with international banks National Australia Bank and ABN Amro. Overall this means that just under half of Platform’s £2.2bn debt portfolio is now explicitly supporting our sustainability objectives. Our sustainability linked revolving credit facilities have KPIs linked to improvements in the energy efficiency of new build properties. In addition, further metrics are linked to improving the representation of black and minority ethnic colleagues, relative to the demographics of the operational areas of Platform and national averages. “These awards are an important opportunity to take a step back and review how far we have come and share inspiration for where we go next in our sustainability journey. This shortlisting acknowledges Platform’s strong commitment to deliver on these targets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Rother DC Housing Company (RDCHC) is delighted to announce its success in securing affordable homes for local people at its flagship Blackfriars’ site in the heart of Battle, East Sussex. The news follows a unanimous decision at Rother District Council’s Full Council Meeting on Monday 29th July to give RDCHC the green light to progress the delivery of 130 affordable rented homes and properties for shared ownership, alongside 70 homes for the open market. Whilst the requirement for RDCHC to deliver a proportion of affordable housing under Section 106 was removed through the planning determination process in February 2024, RDCHC remained committed to finding a solution to re-introduce affordable housing to the scheme as soon as it became financially viable to do so. Now, having gained planning approval for a more efficiently designed housing scheme, and following a competitive tender process to appoint a new main contractor within the available budget, RDCHC faces an improved financial outlook. As the sole shareholder of RDCHC, Council approval of a suite of recommendations means that by the end of September 2024, RDCHC will have: Richard Thomas, Chair of Rother DC Housing Company, said: “We wholeheartedly welcome full council approval of our recommendations which is testament to the robust measures we have undertaken to improve the financial viability of the project. “The delivery of affordable housing remains an important priority for RDCHC and we are delighted that the council has recognised both the economic and social benefits of our proposals. The provision of genuinely affordable homes, including some for rent, will particularly help young couples and those on the housing waiting list. We now look forward to concluding our tender process to appoint a new main contractor to begin the building of homes and to progress a new partnership with our preferred Registered Provider of social housing.” The Blackfriars’ scheme will deliver 200 homes, a mix of 2, 3 and 4-bedroom properties, built to high environmental standards, including air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points, to ensure householders can benefit from energy efficient homes which are cheaper to run. The announcement marks a major step forward for RDCHC in its ambition to deliver 1000 high-quality homes within the district of Rother by 2037. The Blackfriar’s development is scheduled for completion by summer 2027. Full details about the scheme can be found at www.rother.gov.uk/housing/housing-development/blackfriars-site/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wates has been appointed by one of the UK’s foremost not-for-profit housing groups, Orbit, to undertake a retrofit programme for 410 homes over two years, marking the start of a long-term partnership to help decarbonise Orbit’s homes. The appointment will see Wates deliver energy efficiency improvements to 160 homes through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund’s (SHDF) Wave 2.1 with the remaining 250 properties funded by Orbit and the Government’s ECO4 programme. The PAS3025-compliant contract will comprise a range of building fabric improvements to enhance efficiency, including external, internal, cavity wall and loft insulation as well as traditional capital works such as roof, window and door replacements. Wates and Orbit will also explore digital and renewable solutions, including smart thermostats, ventilation upgrades, air and ground source heat pumps, night storage heating systems and photovoltaic panels. Completion is expected by September 2025 with an option to extend the contract for a further four years. The work forms part of Orbit’s long-term Decarbonisation Retrofit strategy as it works towards the Government’s target for all social housing to reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of C by 2030. The new contract adds to Wates’ extensive portfolio of social housing retrofit projects, which to-date has included PAS2035-compliant energy efficiency improvements to over 2,000 properties across the UK through a mixture of Government and self-funded programmes. David Morgan, Executive Managing Director of Wates Property Services, commented: “Our work in social housing retrofit to date has given us a wealth of experience and best practice to support our customers in delivering vital energy efficiency improvements while also planning ahead for their long-term decarbonisation targets. Our collective journey towards Net Zero is reliant on working in partnership in this way, and enables us to efficiently design and deliver the best possible measures for each property, improving efficiency, supporting Orbit in its Net Zero strategy and helping to address fuel poverty for residents.” Jeanette Hodges, Strategic Asset Management Director at Orbit, commented: “We are committed to ensuring our customers enjoy the benefits of a more energy efficient home which is warmer and more affordable, as well as further our important collective journey towards decarbonising our homes. We have already been working at pace, but look forward to working with Wates to further deliver on our commitments and provide our customers with more energy efficient homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
For the fourth year in a row, the ‘Our Teviot’ summer festival has yet again drawn together hundreds of residents in Poplar for a day of celebration and fun. The annual festival, with roots that originally go back to the 1970s, is one of a string of events arranged by award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and housing association Poplar HARCA, in consultation with Teviot residents. Resident input has been central to the regeneration of Teviot, helping to design the masterplan which will encompass new homes, green and play spaces, shops, community and faith facilities, alongside improved infrastructure. The work has shown how resident-focused placemaking can level up the physical environment while also furthering a sense of community and connection. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the Our Teviot festival, held earlier this month. Over seven hundred residents joined together to take part in a host of activities. Youngsters delighted in the bouncy castle and enjoyed face-painting and balloon modelling, while family members of all ages chanced their arms at the coconut shy. They also participated in a blend of traditional and modern summer fete games, including hook-a-duck, tin can alley, Connect Four and Jenga. The busy festival also saw residents joining forces to create a community art piece, as well as engaging in mocktail making, sustainability activities and a range of family-friendly arts and crafts. Talented musicians added to the festivities, with three young performers and two DJs taking to the stage during the event. A karate demonstration and musical bingo also kept residents entertained throughout the afternoon. Hill’s mascots Jack and Billy the Bear were another hit, particularly with the very youngest attendees. Refreshments at the event ranged from sweet treats, courtesy of DJ and Daughter’s ice cream van and Leaders in Community’s sumptuous cakes, to an outstanding array of Somalian street food from the Women’s Inclusion team. Teviot Resident Laurice Debbici, who attended the festival, said: “The Our Teviot festival was a brilliant event. There were lots of free things for children to do and everything was affordable. It was a real chance for the community to come together. The staff were fantastic and always there when needed.” Cain Peters, Managing Director in charge of Special Projects at The Hill Group, comments: “What a glorious way to enjoy being part of the community here at Teviot and to celebrate the extensive regeneration consultation work that has taken place with the community. The Our Teviot festival has emerged as a highlight of the local social calendar, showcasing the value of resident engagement in every aspect of neighbourhood regeneration. We were delighted to see so many locals enjoying the day, as well as running activities, serving up delicious food and so much more. My thanks to all those who worked so hard to make the festival such a resounding success.” Paul Dooley, Director of Development and Regeneration, at Poplar HARCA said: “The Our Teviot summer festival was a real success. It was wonderful to see the community come together to celebrate and enjoy a day of fun activities. Thank you to everyone who came along and helped out on the day. “The festival is a testament to our ongoing commitment to investing in Teviot and ensuring that the community are at the heart of everything we do. We look forward to continuing working with residents and Hill as we move our exciting regeneration plans for the area onto the next stage.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK’s leading social enterprise, Places for People, in partnership with Vistry Group, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure affordable homes, is set to build 90 new affordable homes in Bierly, Bradford. The site – Woodlands Edge – in Bierley, a suburb of Bradford, will provide areas of new open space, green corridors and landscaping. Existing pedestrian connections will be improved, and work will be undertaken to enhance nearby Brierley Hall Woods. The new homes will include a range of two- and three-bedroom houses, offered in affordable rent and shared ownership tenures. The development is expected to create 144 full-time construction jobs and almost 180 supply chain jobs across the build period, injecting £23m into the local economy. As part of their commitment to social value, Places for People will also work closely with local schools and colleges to provide site visits, toolbox talks, and work placements, as well as supporting local schools’ own initiatives. Nilam Buchanan, Regional Managing Director for Central and North of Places for People comments: “As the UK’s leading social enterprise, we have a long-term plan to help address England’s chronic shortage of homes and build sustainable communities, with a big focus on delivering much-needed affordable homes. We are delighted to work with Bradford Council and our strategic partners, Vistry Group to create 90 much-needed affordable houses for the local community. We’re also proud to provide significant employment opportunities and showcase the opportunities a career in the built environment can offer.” Vistry secured planning permission for the development back in October 2023 and work is set to start on site this summer. Andrew Poyner, Managing Director of Vistry, West Yorkshire, said: “Thanks to the engagement and support of Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, we’ve been able to work together with Places for People to unlock this site for development. It will now deliver 90 high-quality, affordable homes, making a significant impact on Bradford’s affordable housing supply.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading regional housing association Bromford has retained its A+ stable credit rating from S&P Global Ratings. S&P highlighted Bromford’s “solid management expertise”, “prudent cost planning and financial headroom”, and “very strong liquidity” as key factors in their decision to maintain the A+ stable rating. The agency carried out its latest review of the Gloucestershire-based housing association earlier in July, examining the progress against its new strategy and business plan which sets out Bromford’s ambitions to build 11,000 new homes by 2032 and to invest £2 billion in maintaining and upgrading its existing homes, including improvements to make them more energy efficient. Bromford recently announced that it had entered into discussions with Flagship Housing Group to create one of the largest housing associations in the country, with 80,000 homes across the central belt of England and the capacity to build up to 2,000 new homes every year whilst maintaining a sector leading A+ / A2 credit rating platform. S&P Global have reviewed the combined organisation’s initial financial analysis and confirmed it continues to reflect an A+ rating, commenting: “Bromford’s currently strong financial indicators would mitigate pressure of the potential business combination, and hence we do not expect it to have an immediate impact on our rating on Bromford.” In the S&P report published yesterday, the agency pointed to the flexibility in Bromford’s robust financial plans around its investment in existing and new homes among the reasons for the housing association retaining its rating. The global ratings agency, said: “The affirmation of the A+ rating reflects our view that Bromford’s prudent cost planning and financial headroom, along with expected improvement in economic conditions, will support the group’s solid credit metrics.” The S&P report, added: “We view favourably Bromford’s flexibility over its investments in new and existing homes. With a proven track record, we expect the group to continue generating some cost efficiencies. This, along with the solid quality of the group’s existing assets, will provide Bromford the headroom to adjust costs, if needed.” Earlier in the year, the housing association held a dedicated workshop with the agency and a small group of its customers, who shared their experiences living in a Bromford home and discussed how this is taken into account by credit rating agencies. Bromford’s director of treasury Imran Mubeen said: “We’re delighted that S&P has recognised our performance over the past year by re-affirming our A+ rating with a stable outlook. The A+ stable rating is also testimony to the opportunity and capacity we can create through the proposed merger with Flagship, with £5 billion of new funding over the next 15 years delivering over 30,000 new, affordable, energy efficient homes perfectly curated within our existing financial framework and A+ rating envelope. We arrive here by design and through intent, with a full shadow credit analysis run on every iteration of the business plan we produce. This is particularly important at a time when we are seeing continued pressure in our sector and a migration to the weaker single A or BBB. “Throughout the rating process, we believe it’s important to showcase how we are delivering for our customers. It is also our responsibility to explain our business plan and treasury strategy to them. That’s why we were pleased to give S&P the opportunity to meet our customers during the year, allowing the agency to hear directly from customers about their lived experiences in their homes and their engagement with our broader services. “The confirmation of this rating, along with our A2 rating from Moody’s will support us when we return to the market to seek additional funds, helping us achieve our goals of tackling the housing crisis by building more homes, investing in our existing properties, and progressing towards net zero, all underpinned by sector leading funding deals.” Bromford has retained its rating after a year in which it has successfully unlocked its balance sheet capacity to deliver new funding through expanding its portfolio of revolving credit facilities to £450 million, securing new private placements with UK and US investors worth £100 million, and co-creating a new pathway to funding with Legal and General Investment Management worth £50 million. In June 2024, Bromford also completed a £200 million sustainability linked loan with key funding partner NatWest. Read the full report from S&P Global Ratings. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Social housing provider A2Dominion is pursuing a new approach to property development, as part of a raft of changes being brought in by the Board and Executive Management Team. Going forward the 38,000-home housing association will focus on regeneration and the redevelopment of neighbourhoods which need the greatest amount of investment to make a real and positive impact on residents and communities. The housing association is aiming to improve the quality and performance of customers’ homes and to provide affordable housing by bringing together internal expertise to improve, regenerate its existing portfolio. The new approach moves the Group away from its previous emphasis on new developments, particularly those for private sale via its FABRICA by A2Dominion brand. As a result, the Group has seen its new build programme drop from 7,817 at its peak in 2018 – when it was one of the country’s top ten developing housing associations – to 1,645 today. The move also aligns with the Group’s decision to re-focus priorities to make improvements to services following its recent downgrade. To reflect the new strategy and reduced programme, the Group intends to reduce the size of its development team by half with colleague consultation already underway. It will also take a regional approach to the delivery of its current pipeline and future projects, with dedicated teams for London and the South East. This includes a technical team focused on a regeneration-led approach to future development, whilst ensuring continuity with its current joint venture projects. Michael Reece, A2Dominion’s Chief Property Officer, said: “We remain committed to building new affordable homes for those in need, however this will be done in a slightly different way. The shift will see A2Dominion targeting the regeneration and redevelopment of properties that need the greatest investment. Our new strategy will also improve the quality and energy and environmental performance of homes to either improve, regenerate or disinvest in our existing portfolio. “This new way of developing homes and improving existing customers’ living environments is designed to build resilience and flexibility into our development programme. “We will also focus on individual investment strategies for each local authority partner which will focus on reviewing and regenerating current stock. This will also look at stock rationalisation and dis-investment in stock that distracts the Group from its core purpose. “We’ll be looking at opportunities for redeveloping and improving densification and consider stock rationalisation where necessary to fund new development opportunities within the area. “Importantly we’ll consult with our key stakeholders and focus on customer needs within that local authority, providing a tailored approach to each of the communities we serve.” “We also recognise the impact these difficult decisions have on our colleagues and appreciate their hard-work and reliance through this change” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new affordable housing development has been officially opened in a Cotswold village. Gloucestershire-based housing association Bromford has completed the redevelopment of 14 former properties with 17 modern, energy efficient homes at Cross Tree Crescent in Kempsford. The new homes, which have all been let at social rent, the lowest cost tenure, have all got solar panels, a waste water heat recovery system and EV charging. The one and two bedroom homes were built by Bromford’s construction partners EG Carter, with the final homes handed over at the end of June. The completion of the 17 new homes is the final phase of the two stage project, which began with the redevelopment of Oakley Flats, on a site opposite Cross Tree Crescent. The 10 new homes built in the first phase, by Speller Metcalfe included four bungalows and were completed in March 2023. Bromford’s Project Manager Millie Nicholls said: “We’re really proud of the new homes we’ve built in Kempsford; they look stunning and I’m sure our customers will enjoy many happy years living here. “The former properties both here and at Oakley Flats had deteriorated over the years and were increasingly expensive for customers to heat. We decided that regenerating them would be best for our customers and the village and by doing so we have added a total of 27 affordable, energy efficient rental properties into the village. There’s a real need for more affordable housing across the Cotswolds and in rural areas in particular where local people can often be priced out of living in the area they grew up in. As one of the country’s most successful builders of affordable housing, we determined to continue developing homes to meet this demand.” Mathew Vye, Associate Director at E G Carter & Co Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have completed the final phase of the Kempsford development. Our collaboration with Bromford has been crucial in delivering these high-quality, affordable homes to the community. We hope these new properties will have a positive impact on the customers, offering them modern, energy efficient living spaces tailored to contemporary needs. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Bromford, creating more opportunities to support and enhance communities through thoughtful and sustainable development.” Bromford is the largest housing association in Gloucestershire, owning more than 12,000 homes across the county, including more than 5,000 in the Cotswold District Council area. Last month the Inside Housing Biggest Builders report named Bromford as the biggest builder of social rent homes over the past year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Scott Black, Chief Operating Officer for Places for People. “Today’s statement from the Chancellor has our unequivocal support, we need more new homes and there is no time to waste. This is one of the most pressing issues for the UK, for economic growth, for families across the UK, and for us all at Place for People, whose mission is to build, help, and support communities across the UK. “The measures Rachel Reeves has announced today are a positive first step for housing of all tenures including much-needed new affordable homes. As well as bringing forward the delivery of new homes, our own ‘Time to Build’ research illustrated that approximately three-quarters of people also want greater investment in local infrastructure to support new housebuilding, which must not be forgotten. “Building must be scaled up now and we are ready to do our part to help. On top of mandatory housebuilding targets and a taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites, we think more can be done to get Britain building again. “If we are to maximise investment into the sector and tackle the current housing crisis for those most in need, we need certainty and more specifically, confirmation on rent at CPI plus 1% while the financial settlement between Government and housing associations is reviewed. This would provide housing associations nationwide with the stability to invest in the homes they own and to accelerate building new homes. “This is an exciting time, and we look forward to further details of the Government’s strategy, including the greenbelt review and recruitment of 300 more people into planning which will help to get things moving again. For too long we haven’t done what is necessary to meet the nation’s supply and demand challenges, and it is great to hear the new Chancellor address some of the key barriers that have held us back for too long, so early in her tenure, a clear framework that unlocks more land for new homes and delivers planning consents quickly and efficiently is needed if we are to meet the needs of the nation. At PFP we are here to help the government get Britain Building at scale and for everyone across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
