23 OCTOBER 2008
QUANTUM SUPPORTS EAST MIDLANDS CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

A consortium of affordable homes developers is bucking the downward trend in the construction industry and is hoping to provide up to £100million worth of work in the east midlands over the next four years.

The Quantum consortium, a group of housing associations who have come together to build affordable homes, has drawn up a framework to achieve economies of scale and a high quality of service from contractors and consultants.

As part of that framework, the consortium is working towards a large-scale development programme to help the Government’s drive for more affordable housing.

Now, following a competitive tendering process, a list of approved suppliers have been drawn up, who will be eligible to bid for work at the upcoming developments of affordable homes with Quantum across the east midlands.

All of the successful applicants had to show a commitment to working in partnership, be able to demonstrate effective management of performance and quality and most importantly, were able demonstrate an understanding of the diverse needs of Quantum’s customers.

The contractors will be building homes for social housing tenants as well as shared ownership properties. Homes are available for shared ownership through the Housing Corporation’s New Build HomeBuy scheme, where the purchaser buys a share of the property and then pays less than market rent on the remaining share.

Quantum consists of three developing members –East Midlands Housing (which is the lead investment partner), Derwent Living and Futures Housing Group - together with four partner members - Advance Housing Association, Foundation HA, Rockingham Forest HA and Wellingborough Homes.

Paul Casey, Business Development Director at Derwent Living housing association who led on this project, said: “As a consortium of housing associations, Quantum is not only interested in providing homes, we are also well aware of how our procurement can impact on the local economies where we operate, creating employment opportunities and job security.

“In these difficult economic times, we are pleased to be able to provide this work which will provide affordable housing across the east midlands for communities and future generations to come.”

As well as affordable housing Derwent Living also builds student accommodation and properties for rent on the open market.

Another housing and regeneration group, LHA-ASRA, which is not a member of Quantum, also took part in developing the framework and will work with the selected contractors and consultants.

The consortium manages more than 30,000 homes across the Midlands and beyond and was launched to deliver affordable housing schemes, follow the principles of good development and share skills, knowledge and best practice.

Quantum is one of just 108 organisations across the country, which has been selected to deliver the Housing Corporation’s affordable housing programme.

EMH (East Midlands Housing) has recently won an Affordable Housing Scheme of the Year award, from the publishers of Northern Housing for a scheme at Hill Court, Bushby, in Leicestershire.

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