Stock rationalisation pilot projects launched in Croydon and Havering
Housing Corporation News Release
10 October 2007 Ref: 97/07
Stock rationalisation pilot projects launched in Croydon and Havering
The London Boroughs of Croydon and Havering are the latest areas who have agreed to take part in a Housing Corporation pilot project looking at whether stock rationalisations will achieve improved services for tenants who live in their area.
They join a list which includes Manchester and South Hampshire to examine property management.
The projects forms part of Corporation initiative which aims to get housing associations in England to explore the potential for rationalisation.
A CIH report commissioned by the Housing Corporation in March 2007 called on Housing Associations to examine their patterns of property ownership and management to ensure they meet key objectives. The Corporation also published a toolkit to support housing associations in this area.
Projects are to be run in New Addington and Fieldway areas in Croydon and Harold Hill in Havering. All three areas have a number of housing associations managing homes within them and are all undergoing ambitious plans for regeneration. In each case the local authority will work closely with the housing associations to consider whether stock rationalisation will achieve improved services for tenants who live in the area.
Rona Nicholson, Director of London for the Housing Corporation, said, “We are delighted to be supporting our Local Authority and Housing Association partners on these two pilot projects. The Corporation has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience on this area and we look forward to being able to apply our expertise on a practical basis to help improve services to the residents in these areas’.
Councillor Dudley Mead, Cabinet Member for housing at Croydon Council, said, “We are very pleased to be working with the Housing Corporation on this project. It will be a great opportunity to improve the management of housing stock in New Addington and Fieldway, which will increase efficiency, improve services to residents and encourage greater community engagement. We have over 50 housing associations operating in Croydon and if this project proves successful we hope to roll it out across the borough
Councillor Mike Armstrong, Havering Council's Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration, said,"Havering Council welcomes the opportunity to work with the Housing Corporation and housing associations to explore new ways of delivering consistently high standards of customer service and stock maintenance. We believe the pilot project will encourage innovative approaches to stock rationalisation and joint working that will benefit residents in the Harold Hill district of Havering and beyond."
Ends.
For further Press information please call Sandra White 0207 393 2094.
Notes to editors:
1) In 2005, the Corporation established two independent rationalisation commissions — one in Manchester and one in South Hampshire — together with a National Steering Group to oversee their work.
The Commissions were responsible for investigating and considering the evidence on national and local issues which impact on the rationalisation of housing association housing stock. They sought to understand the drivers for rationalisation, the barriers that may impede progress and the action that should be taken by associations, local authorities, the Housing Corporation and other agencies to promote rationalisation where clear benefits could be demonstrated. The reports of both Commissions were published in July 2006 and then compiled into a policy and practice report by the CIH in March 2007.
2) The Housing Corporation is the Government's national affordable homes agency, responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. The Corporation's £8 billion investment programme for 2008-11 is its biggest ever. Its previous investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 is funding 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these are for affordable rent, and 35,000 are for affordable sale through the Government's HomeBuy initiatives, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
3). The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed new national homes agency.
