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Social housing consortium JV North claimed £43 million of grant from Homes England in the 2017/18 financial year as its development programme forges ahead.

Made up of nine housing association members across the North West, the funding was for the last year of the 2015/18 Affordable Homes Programme and the current 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme.

The grant, along with member investment, will finance the building of 1,355 homes.

JV North also brought forward 184 starts on-site from continuous market engagement bids during the year.

JV North Chairman Nigel Wilson, who is also Chief Executive of Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, said,

“This is the highest amount of grant the consortium has claimed in one financial year. It demonstrates how committed members are to building new homes and how well organised the JV North development programme is managed. We have a varied programme of scheme types and tenures, a resilient business plan and a proven track record to help us meet demand across the North West from rural sites to city centre developments. Together with Homes England, we are investing well over half a billion pounds (£623.2m) in the 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme to build 3,849 homes and while this is ambitious, we are well on course to deliver.”

In total, JV North has a grant allocation of £125 million from Homes England for the 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme and members are investing £498.2 million as they build 3,071 homes.

The consortium, which collectively manages 114,500 homes, has a long history of development having built the equivalent of one home every working day since forming in 2007.

It recently committed to building two homes every working day until April 2021.

Further details 

1. Collectively, JV North members manage over 114,500 homes
2. Members include: Community Gateway Association, Liverpool Mutual Homes, New Charter Housing Group, Sovini, Torus, Trafford Housing Trust, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
3. JV North members have invested £175,000 every working day with Homes England since forming in 2007
4. JV North was a finalist in the 2018 UK Housing Awards in the Development Programme of the Year category

The Mayor and Mayoress of Preston, Councillor Brian Rollo and Trisha Rollo, got stuck in at Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) last week, practising their bricklaying, plastering and woodwork skills. 

During the visit the students shared some of the brilliant projects they had been working on and their ambitions for the future. The Mayoress was also presented with a handmade wooden flower basket, crafted by the young people themselves.

 The Mayor said,

"It has been great seeing what everyone has been working on and all the good work happening at the centre. We've really enjoyed ourselves."

We'd like to say thank you to the Mayor and Mayoress of Preston for their ongoing support. Our team mates and students at PVC thoroughly enjoyed having you! 

Preston Vocational Centre (PVC) is currently looking to recruit two new Trustees to the Board to ensure we have the capacity and skills to oversee the continued success of the Centre. Based on St Paul’s Road, PVC is a small, local charity committed to providing construction based vocational training of the highest quality to the young people and adults of Preston and the surrounding area.  The roles are unpaid and voluntary although reasonable expenses are paid, including travel. 

Martin Grayston, Centre Manager, explained more about the work of the Centre:

“We are really proud of the support the centre can provide to enable people to take positive steps and achieve their potential.  The centre will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in February 2019 and since the centre first opened our small team of staff and volunteers have provided training to over 5,500 beneficiaries.”

Gillian Beeley, Chair of the Board of Trustees, commented:

“I have found being a PVC Trustee to be an extremely valuable and rewarding experience. The centre has really helped many people to turn their lives around by equipping them with skills in a range of trades.  PVC provides tremendous social value for the people of Preston and neighbouring districts.

We have two upcoming vacancies on the Charity’s Board of Trustees and are seeking to attract individuals with knowledge, skills and experience in some or all of the following areas: education and vocational training; learning and development; community development or charitable work; or commercial and business awareness.

We are looking to recruit the successful applicants directly to the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of the Board.  Therefore, applicants will be required to demonstrate strong leadership skills, preferably in the charity or education sector.   

This is an excellent opportunity for two individuals who are passionate about PVC’s work and have a range of experience which will benefit the charity.”

Further information on the vacancies and how to apply can be found at: https://www.prestonvocationalcentre.co.uk/board-recruitment-details.

Take a look at what PVC does here, by watching this short video. 

Building work on the former Savick pub site, Luton Road and Ainsdale Drive, has now been completed. We have built 8 two bedroomed houses and 2 two bedroomed bungalows, which will all be let as affordable housing.

Alan Glover, new resident, said,

“I’m so grateful to Gateway for this new house. It means there will be plenty of room for me and my daughter and it’s close to her school too! I’m looking forward to sitting in the garden and enjoying the peaceful surroundings.”

The family homes took 10 months to complete and are conveniently situated on the local bus route. New residents will also benefit from nearby shops, Savick library and a local secondary school.

Lee Garry, our Head of Asset Management at CGA, said,

“We’re really pleased with these new homes and feel that the development has transformed the former Savick pub site, which was once an anti-social hot spot, into some fantastic, much needed family homes. These homes are designed to be energy efficient helping to reduce energy bills, which in turn will help residents sustain their tenancy.”

These properties were let via Select Move, a housing website that allows applicants to actively express their interest in properties available for rent.

Work has begun on Preston’s first independent living scheme on Dovedale Avenue, Ingol. The new scheme will consist of 60 fully wheelchair accessible one and two bedroomed apartments, all with private outdoor space. The scheme will also contain a bistro, hairdressers, treatment/consultation and activity rooms.

Councillor Brian Rollo, The Mayor of Preston, who joined us to celebrate the start of work on site, said,

“This scheme has been a long time coming – I know, I was on the CGA Board 6 years ago when the first discussions were held about getting the finance and planning through. We’ve dug the very first hole today, there’s still a lot more work to do, be I’m sure it’ll be well worth it! I’m excited to see the finished scheme.”

The facilities, along with the communal gardens, will be open to the general public, to encourage engagement with the wider community and neighbouring residents.
Louise Mattinson, our Executive Director of Customers and Communities, said,

“This scheme will provide a fantastic resource for the local community, who have been overwhelmingly supportive. When the scheme is completed, the building, and the services that we will be able to deliver for some of our most vulnerable residents, will be something that the local community and everyone involved in designing the scheme, can be really proud of. I’d like to thank Homes England for providing significant funding and also say a particular thank you to our Sheltered Housing Action Group members, who have helped design such a great scheme and campaigned tirelessly to get the scheme off the ground for a number of years.”

The first of its kind in Preston and one of very few in Lancashire, the new independent living scheme will provide 24 hour support to residents with a range of support needs, from those with high level support needs, requiring daily care, to those with low/no care needs, who will benefit from support from staff members when needed.

The contractor leading on this development is North West based company, Cruden Construction. Site Manager, Paul Hunter said,

“Cruden Construction have worked on a few villages, care homes and schemes similar to this one, so CGA can rest assured they’re in good hands. Since we were appointed to this project back in March, we’ve worked hard to ensure the apartments are accessible; making the doors wider, ensuring level access with nothing above 15mm off the ground, to make getting around easier for residents and visitors alike.”

The build is scheduled to be complete in 2020. To keep up with the progress of the build, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.