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On 28th November 2005, Preston City Council tenants voted “yes” to forming a tenant-led housing association focused on improving homes, neighbourhoods and local communities. Twenty years later, we continue to honour that promise.

This year marks 20 years since that historic moment and we are proud to have delivered on our transfer promises and achieved so much along the way.

We were the first housing association in the UK to be built on the Gateway Model, meaning we put tenants at the heart of all we do and involve them in decisions which affect them and their homes and communities. We are tenant-led, community-focused and pride ourselves on delivering high quality services. Our tenants' voices shape our priorities, guide our decisions and help us deliver services that make a real difference to your homes and communities.

  • Transfer day pics 021
  • Formation of CGA 2005 (3)
  • 2005 - voting for CGA
  • Formation of CGA 2005 (1)
Today, we manage more than 6,900 properties across Preston and surrounding areas, including family homes, flats, sheltered housing, extra-care schemes and our homeless prevention scheme. Over the past two decades, Community Gateway has grown, but our core purpose remains the same to provide high-quality homes, build strong communities and ensure tenants have a voice in shaping the organisation.
 

"Reaching our 20th anniversary is an incredibly proud milestone for Community Gateway. Over the past two decades, we have grown from an ambitious new housing association into a trusted organisation at the heart of the communities we serve, built on the same strong values we were founded on.

"What makes Community Gateway truly special is the strength of our tenants, colleagues and partners, all working together to make a difference. From those who voted ‘yes’ all those years ago to those who continue to shape and influence what we do today, our story has always been one of community spirit and collaboration.

"I’m so proud of how far we have come and the positive impact we have made in providing great quality homes, supporting communities and helping people thrive. As we look ahead, we will continue to build on that same foundation, putting our tenants at the heart of everything we do and continuing to make our communities a place everyone can be proud to call home." - Rob Wakefield, Chief Executive

We are proud of the milestones and moments that have shaped Community Gateway into the organisation we are today. Take a look at our 20 year journey below. 

Our 20 year highlights
  • 2005 - voting for CGA
    2005
    CGA was formed

    Tenants of Preston City Council voted in favour of transferring their homes to a new landlord, Community Gateway Association (CGA). We became the first housing association founded on the Gateway model, giving tenants a voice in how their homes and communities are managed.

  • 1st Birthday Full Set 045
    2006
    We moved into our new office

    After outgrowing our temporary offices at Preston City Council, we moved into our new office, Deltic House. The move allowed us to expand our services and bring our growing team together under one roof.

  • Investors in People 2009
    2009
    Investing in our people

    We were awarded the Investors in People (IiP) Gold Award, recognising our commitment to our employees. This achievement placed us in the top 1% of organisations worldwide who have received this award.

  • P1090395-1
    2010
    Investing in our homes

    In our first five years, we invested £115 million into our existing homes, carrying out essential improvements to ensure they were all in line with the Decent Homes Standard.

  • John ROSPA 2011-1
    2011
    Awarded the RoSPA Gold award for the first time

    We were awarded RoSPA Gold for the first time. This acknowledged our commitment to Health and Safety excellence.

  • Patterdale Close-1
    2012
    Our development journey begins

    We completed our first new-build properties at Patterdale Close in Fishwick. The 16 modern homes replaced unwanted 1930s flats, marking the start of our journey in providing high-quality, affordable housing for local people.

  • IMG_9469-1
    2013
    PVC became part of CGA

    Preston Vocational Centre became a charitable subsidiary of CGA, offering high-quality vocational training to young people and adults. PVC helps learners gain skills, confidence and opportunities to progress into further education or employment.

  • IMG_9117-1
    2013
    Gateway PropertyCare was launched

    We set up Gateway PropertyCare, our in-house maintenance service, giving us greater control over the repairs and upkeep of our homes and ensuring tenants receive a better service.

  • 2014 - Greencare
    2014
    Our Grounds Maintenance team launched

    Gateway Greencare was formed, our in-house grounds maintenance service, maintaining all our greenspaces and trees to improve the look and feel of our neighbourhoods.

  • Harbour House 2015 (1)-1
    2015
    We moved into Harbour House

    As our team continued to grow, we moved into Harbour House on Preston Docks, our current offices, giving us a modern base to deliver services across the city.

  • Overton Road 2015 (1)-1
    2015
    Our first tenant-led development was completed

    We completed our first tenant-led development on Overton Road, Ashton. Local residents helped shape the design, influencing features such as parking arrangements and door colours, ensuring the homes met the needs of the community.

  • 2017 - Times 100 (1)-1
    2017
    We ranked 10th in the Sunday Times Top 100

    We were ranked 10th in the Sunday Times Top 100 (not for profit) employers and voted the Number 1 social housing association in the country by 24 Housing Magazine.

  • British Safety Council logo
    2018
    British Safety Councils awards us 5 stars

    We were awarded 5 stars by the British Safety Council for our strong health and safety management, becoming one of only 61 companies worldwide to receive the prestigious Sword of Honour.

  • New engagement offer 2019 (1)
    2019
    Our new engagement offer launched

    After listening to tenants about how they wanted to get involved, we launched our new engagement offer, giving tenants more ways to have their voices heard and shape our services.

  • COVID support 2020 (1)
    2020
    Supported tenants through the pandemic

    As COVID-19 hit, our teams stepped up to support the community. By April, we had delivered 2,300 food parcels, handed out 175 bags of food a day and made over 800 calls per week to check on tenants and provide help where it was needed most.

  • Courtyards-IMG_0323-1
    2021
    We opened Preston's first Extra Care Scheme

    We opened The Courtyards in Ingol, Preston’s first Extra Care Scheme, offering 60 flats for people aged over 60. The scheme combines independent living with tailored care and support, creating a safe, social and welcoming community for tenants. It marked a major step in our commitment to meeting the diverse housing needs of our city’s older population.

  • 2021 - The Spires
    2021
    Our first homelessness prevention scheme opened its doors

    We opened The Spires, our first homelessness prevention scheme, offering 26 temporary apartments. The scheme provides vital support and a safe place to stay for people at risk of homelessness, helping them rebuild their lives.

  • Lightfoot Lane 2021 (2)-1
    2021
    Shared Ownership homes in Fulwood

    Our first Shared Ownership homes were completed on Lightfoot Lane in Fulwood, giving local people more access to affordable housing.

  • Northern Housing Award
    2022
    Award winning Extra Care Scheme

    We won the Northern Housing Award for Supported/Sheltered Housing Scheme of the Year for our flagship Extra Care scheme, The Courtyards.

  • Tree planting1 copy-1
    2022
    Planting a Jubilee tree

    We planted a Jubilee tree in one of our communities for the Queen’s Green Canopy, marking Her Late Majesty’s 70-year reign.

  • The Atrium 2024-1
    2024
    We opened our second Extra Care Scheme

    Our second Extra Care Scheme, The Atrium, opened in Moor Nook, consisting of 61 apartments for over 60s. The scheme provides 24/7 onsite tailored support where needed.

  • 2024 - 1000th new home
    2024
    Our 1,000th new build home was built

    We reached a major milestone with the completion of our 1,000th affordable new home at Tulketh Brow in Ashton. The development includes 12 homes and marks an incredible achievement in our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, affordable housing.

  • IMG_9712-1
    2025
    Recognised for our outstanding health and safety

    We received the Order of Distinction from RoSPA after achieving 15 consecutive Gold Awards, a huge testament to our long-standing commitment to health and safety excellence. This recognition highlights our dedication to keeping tenants’ homes safe and providing a safe working environment for colleagues.

  • Excellence in Company Culture & Employee Development award 2025
    2025
    Award-winning workplace culture

    We were proud winners of the Excellence in Company Culture & Employee Development Award at the Northern Housing Awards. This award is a testament to the hard-working teams across our organisation who contribute to making Community Gateway a great place to work and helps us deliver the best service to our tenants and communities. 

  • IMG_9462-edited
    2025
    Savick Regeneration was completed

    The final phase of the Savick Regeneration delivered 52 much-needed, high-quality homes across the area, alongside a convenience store and a community library. Reflecting CGA’s ongoing commitment to invest in communities and provide a wider choice of quality, affordable homes.