What's New

CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, 21st-24th JUNE 2005, HARROGATE

The annual CIH conference and exhibition attracts around 5,000 key decision makers and is seen as the UK's leading housing event. This year The Housing Forum is involved in a number of varied activities.

To catch up with what's new at The Housing Forum, come and see us at the exhibition on stand number 435 in Hall Q.

Follow the "Walk of Excellence" and see some Housing Forum demonstration projects.

Modern Methods of Construction - the Art of the Possible

Housing Forum Seminar, Wednesday 22nd June 2005, 11.00-12.30, CIH Conference and Exhibition, Harrogate

An informative and interactive seminar exploring international and intersector innovations. Case studies will show how MMC has been successfully used in the private and social sectors.

• James Woudhuysen- Professor of Innovation and Forecasting- De Montford University and Housing Forum Board Member
• Dr Ashley Lane- Director, Westbury Partnerships
• Stuart Gee- Head of Operations, Wave Homes Ltd
• Nick Whitehouse- Chairman and Managing Director, Terrapin Ltd

Housing Forum Drinks Reception Sponsored by Ian Williams Building and Property Services (Housing Forum Executive Member)

Wednesday 22nd June 12.30-2.30, Caulderdale & Nidderdale suite, Swallow St George Hotel, Harrogate

For the first time a lunchtime reception for Housing Forum members and invited associates.

Sustainable Training for Sustainable Communities

Innovation Theatre, Thursday 23rd June 2.30-3.30, CIH Conference, Harrogate

Sustainable Training for Sustainable Communities is a joint partnership between the Housing Forum and CITB-ConstructionSkills aiming to establish the business case for investing in workforce training and diverse recruitment. Krystyna Blackburn, Project Director at the Housing Forum will present the initial findings including a case study from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Modern Methods of Construction Initiative- the Prefabulous and the Refabulous Home

Innovation Theatre, Thursday 23rd June, 11.30-12.30, CIH Conference, Harrogate

The Prefabulous initiative is the result of a collaboration between Design for Homes, The Housing Forum and the Building Centre Trust. Since July 2002 this has resulted in a series of some 10 seminars on innovations in new build and refurbished dwellings, several site visits and an initial report. Presented by David Birkbeck, Chief Executive of Design for Homes and Housing Forum Board member and Judith Harrison, Director of the Housing Forum.

Membership News

Site Visits to Kingspan, Sherburn

Tuesday 21st June and Wednesday 22nd June, Breakfast Visit,8.00- 11.15, CIH conference, Harrogate

The Housing Forum and Design for Homes are pleased to offer Housing Forum members the chance to take part in site visits to the newly opened Kingspan panelised steel frame plant in Sherburn near Malton. Kingspan produces panelised steel frame buildings for single living, learning and healthcare spaces. Transport and breakfast will be provided and the visits include presentations by Arup and Sheppard Robson and take place on Tuesday 21st June and Wednesday 22nd June as part of the Chartered Institute of Housing conference in Harrogate. Invitations will be sent out shortly, places will be limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Look out for the email.

The current package of benefits for Housing Forum members is set out in "Housing Forum: a prospectus for the future within Constructing Excellence 2004 - 2006"

Following the Constructing Excellence merger with Be (Collaborating for the Built Environment) announced in April this year and to be finalised in July, the membership packages will be reviewed after a survey of all members within the coming month, with a view to introducing a new membership package from April 2006.

For more on Be

Demonstration Exemplar

Whitefriars Maintenance, Coventry

Project Number: 1110

Description: The Whitefriars Housing Group involved in the refurbishment of 20,000 units under a five year Strategic Partnering arrangement with Wates Construction and Lovell Partnerships.

Main Innovations

Partnering: The project involves the client and contractors working in parallel partnering arrangements. All partners in the programme had some experience of partnering, but this long-term programme provided an opportunity to take integration to a different level.

Measurement: Each contractor's performance is benchmarked against the other to encourage continuous improvement, as well as the measurement of performance on the project as a whole against the industry KPIs and more sophisticated internal KPIs.

Training: Whitefriars Housing Group is also involved in the Sustainable Training for Sustainable Communities joint project between CITB-ConstructionSkills and The Housing Forum. The proposed works programme was so extensive that labour shortages were identified at an early stage as a business risk. Whitefriars Housing Group provides its own site assessment and training and together with partners, trains employees to NVQ Level 2 in Maintenance Operations, wood, and brick trades. Whitefriars Housing Group has taken on 75 trainees to date with 44% BME.

Sustainability: A key aspect of this project is waste minimisation through a variety of measures. Local business sustainability is encouraged through a programme of engaging local subcontractors.

In addition to improving the quality of its housing stock and its tenant services, Whitefriars Housing Group is concerned with building community involvement and creating physical and social regeneration.

Events

PREFABULOUS HOMES 8

4th July 2005, 2-6pm, The Building Centre, 26 Store St, London

The latest in the successful series of seminars organised by The Housing Forum, The Building Centre Trust and Design for Homes, that bring to a mixed audience of housing practitioners, examples of modern methods of construction applied to both market sale and affordable housing schemes.

This event will be chaired by Professor Colin Davies and speakers are:

• Kevin McGeogh - English Partnerships on The Summit House
• Bob Tomlinson - Living Villages, on The Wintles, Shropshire
• Mark Williams - The Panel Agency
• John O'Mahony - O'Mahony Pike Architects on The Cherry Orchard
• Mike Kirk - Hyde Housing Association and Andrew Ogorzalek - PCKO Architects on Wyndham Road

Tickets are £90 + VAT To book please click here or call 0207 592 1100

CONFERENCES- ADVERTISED ON BEHALF OF HOUSING FORUM NETWORK

OFFSITE 2005

6-9 June, BRE Watford

OFFSITE2005 is planned to be the largest most ambitious exhibition on off-site and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) ever seen in the UK. It will feature ten full scale exhibits of houses and buildings which represent the latest international developments and innovations in sustainable, affordable construction.

The Housing Forum is pleased to offer its members a special 50% discount off the exhibition entrance fee (£50 reduced to £25). To avail of this offer go to www.offsite2005.com and use the secure online booking system, entering the code CY37Q in the discount code box in Step 2.

Contact details

The Housing Forum, Constructing Excellence, Warwick House, 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0PP.

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