What's New

Update on the Housing Forum Work On Customer Driven Strategy

Reports from the groups below will feed into the framework for a Customer Driven Strategy for housing constructiong currently being scoped.

Increasing Innovation in the Supply of New Homes, Chaired by David Birkbeck, Chief Executive of Design for Homes. This group is producing quarterly newsletters for Housing Forum members, the second of which was published on 18th October 2005. It focussed on Floods and Water issues in housing construction. The group has also arranged a study trip for Housing Forum members through, and subsidised by, the Concrete Centre to examine at first hand innovative concrete products and systems in Belgium, Germany and Holland.

Design and Customer Satisfaction, Chaired by Barry Munday, Chairman of PRP Architects. The group is focussing on which issues are important to the customer in terms of what they are looking for in their home, its setting (development) and its wider context (the community), in terms of design, construction and management. The group will undertake secondary, and primary research of three audiences (residents, industry and government) to establish where there are mismatches between demand/ supply/ policy.

Improving the Existing Housing Stock, Chaired by Dave Smith, Director of Wates. A survey was designed to explore current issues in the procurement of works to refurbish the existing stock highlighting the successes and barriers. This was sent out to 211 individuals whose responses will identify 5 or 6 topics to be explored in greater depth at a workshop to be held on the 8th November.

Achieving Best Practice in Housing Demonstrations

• Gallions Housing Association on the Eco Park, Thamesmead.

  The design and construction of 39 houses (for social rent by Gallions Housing Association) and 8 flats (for open market sale by Tilfen Limited) including a range of environmentally friendly features.

• The London Borough of Southwark and United House on the Bermondsey West Partnership.

  Planned preventative works to blocks of flats and maisonettes within one of the housing Neighbourhood Offices over a 3-5 year period.

• Worthing Homes on the Concise Contract for a scheme of new build social housing flats/ houses with ground floor commercial units in Worthing.
• Ujima Housing Association on Total Eco Management.

  The project aims to reduce the environmental impacts of housing organisations on the environment through corporate culture change using a web based environmental performance and evaluation system.

• The London Borough of Greenwich on Brook, Page, Horn and Middle Park Estates.

  A £33m project involving the refurbishment of housing in four estates in the London Borough of Greenwich. The project has been procured using a management contracting approach, partnering with two major contractors- Kier and Lovell- and their respective supply chains.

Don't miss the next cluster event to be held on Tuesday, 29th November 2005, 13.30 - 17.00 at Constructing Excellence offices, London. Please email Jonathan De Souza for more information.

Membership News

21st - 23rd February 2006. Earls Court, London

Housing Forum Constructing Excellence have signed up as Partners of Regenex 2006 Exhibition and Conference which will be involved in all aspects of urban renewal.

Regenex 2006 will be co-located with Ecobuild 2006 dedicated to sustainable design and construction products and services and Futurebuild 2006 showcasing new materials and processes in housing and commercial applications. For further details click here.

As Partners we are able to offer our members a 15% discount on all registrations made by our members (members must advise at the time of booking)

Also 10% discount for any of our members on exhibition space within any of the 3 show areas (members must advise at time of booking and the contracting process must be finalised by the 2nd of December 2005).

Drinks Reception with Stephen Williams, HSE Chief Inspector of Construction

18th November 2005, 4pm- 7.30pm, Constructing Excellence offices, London

This is an opportunity to meet the new HSE Chief Inspector of Construction and discuss the proposed new CDM regulations, along with safety legislation and occupational health issues. It is available exclusively to members. For more information please email Fia Holmstrom.

New Membership Package

The new membership package for the Housing Forum was launched at the Innaugral Joint Members Convention for Housing Forum and Be members on the 21st September 2005. There will be a two tier fee based on size of company which will provide access to all Constructing Excellence forums: The Housing Forum, Building and Estates (Be), Infrastructure, Construction Clients Group and the Local Government Task Force. We welcome your comments on the new package. For more information please click here

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' click here to download

Membership fees for current members 2005/06 will be held at these rates for at least one year from April 06 under the new scheme.

To download the Housing Forum Membership form click here .

Demonstration Exemplar

London Borough of Hackney Decent Homes Programme

Team Members
Lovell Partnerships
Housing Services- London Borough of Hackney
Mulalley and Co Ltd
Mansell Construction
Connaught Property Services
Kier London

Construction Start: 1.12.04
Construction Finish: 31.01.09

Total Value: £180m
Construction Value: £140m

Description
London Borough of Hackney's Decent Homes Programme was established to benefit around 19,000 out of a total of 25,000 rented homes in the Borough.

Main Innovation: Strategic Alliance Agreement with five constructors on major works to realise a range of benefits:

• Standardisation of approach and practice
• Bulk purchasing advantages from Supply Chain
• Sharing of knowledge and experience
• Innovation of techniques to yield added value
• De-skilling of tasks and training to promote local employment

Events

CONSTRUCTING EXCELLENCE CHARITY FUNDRAISER FOR CRASH 7th December 2005, 7.30pm- Midnight.
London Art House, Islington, London
Casino night, drinks reception and canapes for Constructing Excellence members and friends. Invitations will be sent out shortly.

Contact details

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

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