Maidstone-based housing association Golding Homes has successfully renegotiated changes to agreements with its funders and investors to increase investment into existing homes. This enables the delivery of the Board-approved asset management strategy to spend £60m over the next three years to invest in improving its existing homes and help deliver
Salford housing association Salix Homes has been awarded the highest grading from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in recognition of the homes and services it provides for customers. The RSH, the Government body that regulates the social housing sector, has recently completed a thorough inspection of Salix Homes as
Housing association Salix Homes has unveiled its plans to invest more than £20million improving social housing across Salford over the next year. The landlord, which owns 8,000 homes in Salford, has announced its investment programme for 2024-2025, which will see 1,366 homes undergo improvement work. A £10million eco-transformation at neighbouring
A £5 million project to replace cladding and improve fire safety at a 74-home central London development has now been completed. The works at Barrington Court in Victoria form part of A2Dominion’s wider programme to remediate cladding at a total of 65 developments to ensure they meet new government safety
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
Maidstone-based housing association Golding Homes has successfully renegotiated changes to agreements with its funders and investors to increase investment into existing homes. This enables the delivery of the Board-approved asset management strategy to spend £60m over the next three years to invest in improving its existing homes and help deliver significant benefits to its customers. Finance Director David Hart said: “Getting these deals over the line is a fantastic achievement which will deliver our robust asset management strategy so that we can make a real and lasting difference to our customers. “Some of this work is already underway; homes are getting new roofs, kitchens, bathrooms, and replacement doors and windows. These improvements will transform the environmental performance of these homes and help reduce energy use and costs for customers. “Successfully securing these revised agreements with Barclays, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, and Santander UK is a wonderful achievement and we’re thrilled. It’s a testament to the strong, positive partnerships we have with our funders, and I’d like to thank everyone who’s worked so hard for many months to make it happen, including our solicitors Anthony Collins and my inhouse team.” Kathrin Nash, Relationship Director, Barclays, said: “As always, it has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Finance team at Golding Homes on this strategic covenant relaxation to enable the association to undertake its important asset management strategy over the next few years. Barclays enjoys a strong relationship with Golding Homes and is proud to be a strategic partner of the association. This is another example of our renewed focus on supporting and lending to more businesses across the UK.” Chris Yau, Relationship Director Lloyds Bank, said: “Everyone deserves access to a safe, energy efficient and lasting home and so we are proud to support Golding Homes – as one of the largest landlords in Kent – in its efforts to provide good quality social housing to the local community.” Dean Holleyman, Director of Housing Finance, Commercial and Institutional, at NatWest said: “We’re pleased to offer Golding Homes a structure that allows for greater investment in its properties. We’re committed to supporting the creation of more affordable homes while ensuring that existing houses become more sustainable. It’s great news that Golding will deliver new homes, while people currently living in their properties will be able to enjoy more environmentally friendly homes.” Aradhna Lawson, Senior Relationship Director at Santander UK, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support Golding Homes through this process which will unlock additional capacity to invest in their homes for residents. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future.” Golding customer Steve said this about his new roof: “I moved in six months ago and am really happy here. I’m really pleased that the roof’s being done. They always let me know what’s going on and I hope it’ll make the house warmer come winter.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salford housing association Salix Homes has been awarded the highest grading from the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) in recognition of the homes and services it provides for customers. The RSH, the Government body that regulates the social housing sector, has recently completed a thorough inspection of Salix Homes as part of the new standards and inspection programme introduced to help drive improvements in the quality of homes and services in the sector. Salix Homes, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford in Greater Manchester, is one of the first housing associations in the country to be awarded the highest possible C1 (consumer) grading, which is a newly introduced rating system based on performance against the new Consumer Standards. The landlord also retained its G1 grading for governance and V2 grading for financial viability. Sue Sutton, Salix Homes Chief Executive, said: “This is a really positive outcome for Salix Homes and we’re very proud to be amongst the first housing associations to have achieved the highest possible C1 grading under the new Consumer Standards, which reflects our ongoing commitment to putting customers at the heart of our organisation. “This achievement is testament to the dedication and hard work of our workforce, Board and Customer Committee. It also underpins our collective efforts to ensure that our homes are safe and well-maintained, our customers are listened to and respected, and that our services are responsive and effective. “Retaining our G1 and V2 gradings also highlights our dedication to strong governance and financial stability. These gradings assure our customers, colleagues and stakeholders that we are managing our resources wisely and are well-positioned to continue providing high-quality homes and services. “While we are proud of this recognition, we are not complacent. We’re committed to continuous improvement, and we will carry on learning from customer feedback to ensure we can keep delivering a housing service in Salford we’re all proud to be a part of.” In its judgement, the Regulator recognised Salix Homes’ strengths, including: The Government introduced the new Consumer Standards in April this year as part of an integrated approach to social housing regulation, setting the outcomes that landlords must deliver for tenants. Social housing providers have previously been assessed on their Governance (G grading) and financial Viability (V grading), but now there’s a new Consumer (C grading). Launched as part of the Social Housing Regulation Act, the new approach aims to drive improvements in the quality of social housing and services while continuing to scrutinise the financial viability and governance of housing associations. You can read the full judgement about Salix Homes on the RSH website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing association Salix Homes has unveiled its plans to invest more than £20million improving social housing across Salford over the next year. The landlord, which owns 8,000 homes in Salford, has announced its investment programme for 2024-2025, which will see 1,366 homes undergo improvement work. A £10million eco-transformation at neighbouring tower blocks Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court in Greengate forms a key part of the investment programme, aiming to make the buildings greener and more energy efficient. Salix Homes is also installing sprinkler systems in five more of its tower blocks, meaning 14 of its 20 tower blocks will have sprinklers, with the remaining blocks to follow. Other improvement work includes new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors, roofs, rewiring and heating systems to hundreds of homes. Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “As we continue to build new homes in Salford, we also remain dedicated to investing in our existing housing stock to ensure our customers have the high-quality, safe and sustainable homes they deserve. “This investment programme is one of our most ambitious yet, aimed at significantly enhancing our customers’ quality of life by creating safer, cleaner and greener homes and communities. “Sustainability is a key priority for Salix Homes – projects like the eco-transformation at Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court are pivotal in reducing our carbon footprint, tackling fuel poverty, and supporting Salford’s journey towards a greener future. “Additionally, the installation of sprinkler systems in five more of our tower blocks underpins our ongoing commitment to building safety, and we are very proud to continue making a positive impact on the lives of our customers and the broader Salford community.” Work is already well underway at Grey Friar Court and White Friar Court, with the scaffolding now erected. The work is being carried out by Salix Homes’ principal contractor Casey and includes external wall and roof insulation, new windows and ventilation; while the façade and balconies will be completely rendered and transformed. An eco-friendly ground source heating system will also be installed, which, combined with the external insulation will improve the thermal efficiency of the building and help reduce energy bills. The state-of-the-art heating system works by harnessing the natural heat from the ground, rather than burning fuel to generate heat. Salix Homes secured £4million from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) to help fund the tower block project, following a successful bid from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on behalf of social housing providers across Greater Manchester. The SHDF scheme provides financial support to social housing providers and local authorities to undertake energy efficiency and decarbonisation measures. The Government has set a target that all social housing should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of a ‘C’ rating by 2030, as part of the net zero programme to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, while Salix Homes has committed to becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2038. The five tower blocks to get sprinkler systems over the next year are Floral Court and Cheshill Court in Broughton and Black Friar Court, Newbank Tower and Riverbank Tower in Greengate. The improvement work will be carried out by Salix Homes’ partner contractors, including Casey, Connolly and Emanuel Whittaker. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A £5 million project to replace cladding and improve fire safety at a 74-home central London development has now been completed. The works at Barrington Court in Victoria form part of A2Dominion’s wider programme to remediate cladding at a total of 65 developments to ensure they meet new government safety legislation. Recladding works at Barrington Court Barrington Court, built in 2009, includes a mix of leasehold and social rented homes. A2Dominion invested £5m in replacing the cladding, which includes £1.4m from the government’s building safety fund. No costs have been passed to customers. Saleh Mirza, A2Dominion’s Head of Building Projects, who is responsible for delivering the fire safety remediation programme said: “We first carried out an initial inspection of Barrington Court in 2020 where we found the building used a type of cladding that is now known to be a non-conformant material which is unsuitable for buildings. “Works began in March 2023, and took just over a year to complete ending in June this year. The building now has a new cladding system which is a safe and non-combustible material. Our wider fire safety programme, which involves undertaking fire safety works at 65 schemes, is on track and due to be completed in 2026.” A2Dominion employed contractor Equans to deliver the works with minimal disruption. Solar panels While carrying out safety works, A2Dominion also upgraded the building’s solar panels with the latest technology. The energy supplied through these drastically reduces the amount of power needed from an energy supplier for the communal areas. By introducing the new solar power system, leaseholders in the building will save approximately £6,000 in service charges each year. Continued support offered for customers A team of Resident Liaison Officers and specialist Property and Safety Managers have been supporting customers where fire safety work is taking place. Maaz Khan, A2Dominion’s Senior Property and Safety Manager, who is responsible for managing Barrington Court, said: “One of our key objectives is to improve customer engagement by having a weekly on-site presence. “I have been able to speak to customers face-to-face rather than just over email, which has helped us discuss the building safety works. This collaborative approach has enabled our customers to have their say in decisions about buildings and their homes.” A2Dominion customer Peter spoke about the improvements they had seen in the service they have been receiving and said: “We are seeing results and benefits I never thought we’d see. Residents would appreciate Maaz’s standard and problem solving at A2Dominion moving forward.” Building fire safety programme In 2019, A2Dominion carried out inspections to identify which buildings needed recladding, as part of new safety measures introduced by the government. Although most of its buildings do not need fire safety works, A2Dominion has created a programme to carry out essential recladding to buildings that need it, which included Barrington Court. You can find out more about A2Dominion’s fire safety programme here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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
