SPREAD YOUR WINGS – TRY OUR OTHER REGIONAL NEWSLETTERS
03 September 2010

Housing News not only provides free, daily, regional news for London, but also the rest of the UK. Housing News brings you local and national stories across the UK in our eight regional newsletters. The individual newsletters cover: Scotland, North East, North West, West Midlands, East, South West, and South East. If you would like to subscribe to any, or all, of these newsletters, email news@housingnews.co.uk specifying which of the newsletters you would like. www.housingnews.co.uk

PERMISSION GRANTED FOR £136M REGENERATION OF GREEN MAN LANE ESTATE
03 September 2010

An estate in West Ealing is to be transformed with high-quality new homes and community facilities after Ealing Council gave the green light to a massive £136m regeneration project. The Green Man Lane estate regeneration team, which includes A2Dominion, Rydon and architect, Conran & Partners, was granted outline planning permission for the masterplan and detailed planning consent for phase one of the scheme. Residents, neighbours and other stakeholders have worked for over a year with the regeneration team to help shape plans for the project, giving their input into a range of areas including design, community regeneration and neighbourhood management. Demolition will get under way in early 2011 of the estate’s 464 existing homes and a multi-storey car park, to make way for the first of 706 new flats and houses for a mixture of affordable rent, shared ownership and outright sale. The first phase of the regeneration will include 154 new one, two, three and four-bedroom homes split across two blocks, ranging in height from three to eight storeys; community café; enterprise employment units and community floor space; new roads and parking spaces; play space for children; and an energy centre to provide energy-efficient heating and energy to the new neighbourhood. Nicholas Yeeles, A2Dominion’s Executive Director (New Business), said: “This is fantastic news for local residents, who have worked hard over a long period of time to get the new high-quality homes they want and need. Our aim is to create a place where people feel proud and safe to be, and we feel confident that the regeneration will achieve this. “However, this project will go far beyond simply providing new homes, with the creation of community facilities supporting the long-term sustainable revitalisation of this neighbourhood. We look forward to continuing to work with the local area as plans for this exciting project move forward.” The regeneration team has been working not just with the residents of Green Man Lane but the wider community as well, to ensure the whole of West Ealing benefits from the regeneration. Initiatives such as the Green Man Lane history group, an arts project and plans for the community café are giving people from across the local area the opportunity to get involved. Mark Mitchener, Rydon’s director responsible for regeneration, said: “We are really excited about this outstanding project which will benefit so many people. We look forward to continuing our work with the residents and the community and to offering work and training opportunities to local young people and trades as we deliver the transformation of the estate that is so needed.” Paul Zara, Director at Conran & Partners, said: “The redevelopment of Green Man Lane is of vital importance both to the area and to the people that live there. The opportunity to provide high quality homes for the current residents alongside new homes for sale and rent is a great responsibility and one that we have taken very seriously. "We want this to be outstanding architecture that raises the spirits of those who live there. Our aim is to set new standards in Ealing and create a place where people will be proud to be a resident.”

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MAJOR SUPPORT FOR PLANS TO BRING EALING HOMES IN-HOUSE
03 September 2010

An independent survey shows strong support from tenants and leaseholders for Ealing Council’s plans for the future management of council housing in Ealing. Market research company, Ipsos MORI, sent questionnaires to all 17,800 secure tenants and leaseholders in July, asking if they supported plans to bring housing management under the council’s direct control. A report published today shows overall 61% of those responding to the postal survey were in favour of the proposals for how housing should be managed after the agreement with Ealing Homes ends in March 2011. Only 6% opposed the plans, while 33% didn’t know or didn’t have an opinion either way. Telephone surveys were also carried out with 800 residents, which showed 59% supported the proposals, while just 5% objected. Council Leader, Julian Bell said: “The first thing we did when we took office in May was to halt controversial plans to allow private organisations to bid to run council housing in Ealing. “Instead we wanted to bring the management of council homes in-house and carried out a major consultation to give all Ealing Homes tenants and leaseholders the chance to have their say. I’m delighted that there is such strong support for our proposals, which we believe will reduce duplication and improve the quality of service for our residents.” The surveys also showed a good level of understanding among tenants and leaseholders, with 70% responding to the postal survey and 65% responding to the telephone survey, saying they understood what is being proposed. The council’s Cabinet will discuss the results of the survey and make a final decision on the proposals at its meeting on Tuesday, 14 September. Further Links

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NOTTING HILL HOUSING REPORT £218M TURNOVER
03 September 2010

Notting Hill Housing Trust has reported a turnover of £213.8m, with a surplus of £8.1m, in its Financial Statements for 2009/10. The Trust stated: “As we all know, it's been a year of exceptional change, and not just for us. A new Government, spending reviews and the economy continue to affect every person in the UK. In a tough year, we have recorded a turnover (income) of £213.8 million and a surplus of £8.1 million. “Our new financial statements cover the period when we re-organised four businesses into one and substantially reduced our cost of debt by issuing a successful debut bond. “We increased our resident satisfaction, even during an internal restructuring process, our development programme exceeded its annual targets, and we sold more new homes for shared ownership than many of our competitors. “None of this excellent work could have been done without the skill, care and energy of our dedicated staff and business partners.” Further Links

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EXCITING NEW CARE DEVELOPMENT IN HAMPTON
03 September 2010

Richmond Housing Partnership, working with Richmond Council and the Primary Care Trust, is delighted to announce that a new Extra Care Housing scheme in Dean Road, Hampton is nearing completion. The building, supported by a Department of Health grant, will offer 41 high quality, modern and attractive homes for older people who want to live independently whilst still needing some personal care and support. The scheme provides a really exciting alternative to residential care and will be of interest to people who are aged over 55 and who currently have, or may need, an intensive home care package. Each home at Dean Road is self contained with full mobility standards throughout. We have a variety of 1 and 2 bedroom flats to let at affordable rents with 7 properties available on a shared ownership sale basis. The flats are built to a high standard, with great energy efficiency and comfort. Customers will benefit from a 24-hour on site care team, cleaning and support staff and a dedicated housing scheme manager. There is a small sensory garden, large central community room and kitchen which will be shared with other providers to offer a variety of health promotion and social activities within the scheme. Care provision for each resident will be on a needs assessed basis and will reflect the ethos of promoting independence and personal choice. This service will be provided around the clock by the onsite care team from Care UK. Further Links

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NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSING OFFICE LAUNCHED ON WOODBERRY DOWN ESTATE
03 September 2010

Hackney Homes has launched a new Neighbourhood Housing Office on Woodberry Down Estate. Under the management of housing management partner Pinnacle, the office will be shared with the Woodberry Down Regeneration Team and will be open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Staff at the new office will be able to assist residents with matters including estate management including cleaning and repairs; information about events, resident meetings and estate walkabouts; and tenancy and leasehold management queries. In addition, an anti social behaviour (ASB) surgery will be held every Friday from 2 to 5 pm where residents will be able to speak to specialist ASB officers in confidence about any particular concerns they may have. Pinnacle, the housing contract manager for Woodberry Down, will continue to deliver housing management services to residents in the North East from the main Office in Stamford Hill. Rupert Tyson, Chair of Hackney Homes Board said: “We are committed to supporting our residents living in Woodberry Down and we hope that closer access to our housing office services will be an added benefit.” Further Links

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HEAD OFFICE MOVE FOR STADIUM HERALDS NEW IMPROVED CUSTOMER SERVICE
03 September 2010

Shereen Robinson, Patrick Flynn and Helen Evans Stadium Housing Association has launched new improved services for residents as part of a move this summer to new offices in Wembley. Stadium, part of Network Housing Group, has moved from its headquarters, the Electric House landmark building in Willesden Green, to Olympic Office Centre in Fulton Road, next to Wembley Stadium. The most important benefit for residents resulting from the move is a new streamlined customer contact centre which now makes it easier to call Stadium. Just two new telephone numbers have replaced all former customer service numbers: general needs residents can call one number, 0300 373 3000, while shared ownership, leaseholders, supported and temporary tenants can get in touch by calling another one, 0300 373 3001. In addition, visitors are welcomed at a state-of-the-art reception area with free web access, staffed by members of the new fourteen strong Customer Service team which also operates the new contact centre and has detailed casework knowledge. Helen Evans, Network’s London operations director, said: “The opening of the contact centre and our bright and spacious new reception area is already helping us to improve the services we provide, with residents receiving a new customer experience when either telephoning or visiting in person.” On September 18, Stadium will be marking the move with a special event for all its residents. Taking place in the large car park, the Stadium Carnival will opened by Barry Gardiner MP and the attractions will include several different dance displays, steel drums, cheerleaders, prize draws and tours of both the office and of Wembley Stadium. The event will see the release of our new and improved customer service standards. These are currently being drawn up in consultation with residents and will set strict new guidelines regarding all key areas of operation, including response times, cleaning, repairs, planned maintenance and complaint handling. Stadium’s new headquarters is only a short walk from Wembley Park Tube station, three Jubilee Line stops from Willesden Green – the nearest Tube station to its former home – and is convenient for other local transport links. The building is also occupied by other parts of Network Housing Group. Further Links

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
03 September 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS Homes for Northumberland is looking to appoint an Independent Board Member. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: September 15. Villages Housing Group is looking to appoint a Finance Manager & Deputy Company Secretary based in Stockbridge Village, Knowsley. Salary £40,000 (plus benefits). For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Closing date: September 3. Hastoe is looking to appoint a Residential Buildings Safety Officer (South). For more information, go to: housingnews.co.uk/SouthEast. Closing date: August 27. Berwickshire Housing Association is seeking a Projects Manager. For more information, got to: www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Closing date: September 3. Argyll Community Housing Association is seeking a Senior Investment Officer & Planned Maintenance Officer, based in Lochgilphead, 35 hours per week, salary grade 4 (£29,773 - £33,080) per annum. For more information, got to: www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Closing date: September 17. TENDERS To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.