whg names partners appointed to £197m housing deal

Affordable housing provider, Walsall Housing Group (whg), has appointed Wates, United Living and Kier to its new £197 million planned programme of investment contract, marking a milestone in its net zero carbon journey.

The seven-year contract, which commenced on 1 June, will see each contractor oversee a set geographical area, with responsibility for all capital investment works – including new kitchens and bathrooms, roofing and windows across its portfolio of 21,000 homes They will also support whg as it works towards achieving a minimum energy rating of C on all its properties by 2030.

Working collaboratively, the contractors will also be supporting whg’s social value work, creating apprenticeships and other employment opportunities for local people.

Rob Gilham, Corporate Director of Business Strategy and Assets at whg said: “These contractors join us at a hugely important time and against the backdrop of the next cycle of the Decent Homes Programme, our commitment to achieving net zero carbon and our building safety works.

“It is only with the support of our contractors that we will be able to achieve all this and more. Our seven year partnership will enable us to forge close working relationships that will bring additional benefits to the communities we serve, supporting local employment and raising the standards of housing.”

David Morgan, Executive Managing Director, Wates Property Services, said: “Undertaking retrofit projects to decarbonise social housing across the UK is a huge responsibility but it is one that whg is embracing with ambition. Wates’ zero carbon projects to date have informed a breadth of best practice that we continue to develop in partnership with our clients and supply chain. We look forward to working collaboratively with whg to maximise their investment, improve energy efficiency for residents and bring our industry one step closer to net zero.”

Simon Will, Managing Director, United Living Property Services said: “We are delighted to be appointed as part of whg’s framework of strategic partners alongside Wates and Kier. The contract win is a testament to United Living’s ongoing growth and commitment to the Midlands region and extends our footprint into this area. We are also excited to deliver the project with the goal of achieving a zero carbon status on all whg’s properties.”

Mark Whittaker, Managing Director of Kier Places, added: “We have extensive experience in delivering planned maintenance to properties across the UK and with a firm focus on building safety, community engagement and decarbonisation, and we look forward to providing a quality service to whg.

“We will work collaboratively with whg to deliver improvements to people’s homes, making them safer and more energy-efficient as well as delivering wider benefits to the local community through our social value commitments.”