Building a better future for everyone

Jan 15 2010 Constructing Excellence with Catriona Lingwood, The Journal

THE announcement this week of a further £122m into the pot for new council housing is undoubtedly a boost to our industry.

At the time of housing minister John Healey’s announcement, officials were quoted as saying the move would create 7,500 jobs and around 100 apprenticeships.

The cash is being handed to 73 local authorities and those councils are to match the grants.

The amount invested in the Government’s new council house building drive has now reached £500m and is a great stimulant in itself, but the additional requirement that the councils will be required to offer apprenticeships and local job recruitment schemes is a real investment in the future.

Mr Healey’s announcement followed hot on the heels of the Homes and Communities Agency’s announcement last week that a variety of house builders, contractors and development consortia have been appointed to its new Delivery Partner Panel.

Divided into northern, central and southern clusters, the panel is aimed at streamlining development on publicly-owned land.

While the panel members will work on the HCA’s own projects, their selection by the agency will clearly act as a stamp of approval when it comes to their credentials to work with local authorities, regional development agencies and other public agencies. The panel is operational until January 3, 2013.

Organisations and individuals in the North East interested in affordable homes can attend an event being planned for March.

Constructing Excellence in the North East is to hold an event entitled Better Procurement, Better Homes, hosted by Newcastle law firm Watson Burton. Full details are to be confirmed, but interested parties can contact Constructing Excellence’s events and marketing manager, Erika Hartill, on 0191 383 7436.

By Catriona Lingwood, chief executive, Constructing Excellence in the North East.

For more information call 0191 383 7435 or email catriona@cene.org.uk