Agenda item
Registered Providers Presentation - Guinness
The Panel have invited representatives from The Guiness Partnership to give them a presentation on their plans for future development.
Minutes:
Stephen Lodge, Director of Asset Strategy & Analysis, The Guinness Partnership gave a presentation to the Panel. A copy of the presentation will be available online as an appendix to the minutes and placed on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.
He said that he wished to state that affordable housing was the main element from the start of their developments.
The Context
Fast Changing Sector
Financial Constraints
Service Offer
Product range
Value for Money
He explained that the subsidy from Government had reduced and that that coupled with a market that is producing a less secure revenue stream can make them a less attractive proposition for lenders.
He said that the Partnership also has a role in offering tenants focussed support in trying to go back to work and retraining.
He stated that a greater number of their homes were becoming private or available under market rent.
He said that the Partnership was looking at their asset base as a means for finding funds for new homes / renovations.
The Guinness Partnership
National – 125 years
60,000 homes
Mixed Tenure
Design & Quality
Care & Support
He informed the Panel that the Partnership worked across 173 Local Authorities with 60,000 homes. He said that they developed around 1,000 homes a year, with around 200 of those within the local area.
He stated that the Partnership were clean about their aims on design and quality.
He explained that the Partnership looked after around 500 homes currently within B&NES and that a Development Team was based in Bristol.
Asset Management
He said that they were looking to breathe new life into a number of their properties that were built in the 1970’s and 1980’s with some becoming holiday lets or available at market rent. He added that properties in London were most appropriate for such activity.
Future Development
He said that the Partnership has a desire to continue to grow and is looking to acquire land, mainly in rural areas to develop. He added that by acquiring land they could have more control over the standard of the properties.
He explained that the Partnership now operates some Extra Care Schemes and would look to develop more of these. He said that people could move into these properties from the age of 55 and that the levels of support required can be tailored.
He concluded by saying that the core business of the Partnership remains Housing.
The Chair asked if they could comment on their current repairs policy.
Stephen Lodge replied that a national restructure of their repairs service was underway and that they were seeking to rollout a 24 hours service. He added that currently properties were assessed and then those judged to be in most need were actioned first.
Councillor Gerry Curran asked if they had any local sites in mind for development.
Stephen Lodge replied that they did not at the present time.
Councillor Gerry Curran commented that when sites are identified there is normally a good deal of competition to secure them.
Stephen Lodge replied that it is not always feasible for them to challenge bids for a site and they look to secure sites where possible before they come to market.
The Chair, on behalf of the Panel thanked him for attending and the presentation.