Habinteg Housing Association, in partnership with interior designer Alison Wright, created innovative, elegant, 21st century kitchens and bathrooms in two homes at the Association's Westwood Park scheme, in Bradford.
These new homes were revealed at a special event attended by the sponsoring manufacturers, housing associations, local authorities, occupational therapists, disability organisations, housing developers and building and architectural organisations. The aim of the project was to challenge stereotypical thinking about design for disability, by creating inspirational examples of stylish, accessible design that appeal to a wide range of households, from families with young children, through to older people and wheelchair users.
The kitchen in the wheelchair accessible home included a waist-height oven with safety shelving, adjustable height worktop and cupboards, a fridge with pull-out shelves, and an extending hose tap for filling saucepans without lifting them. For people with a visual impairment, the colours were carefully chosen for their non-reflective qualities, contrast, and tonal balance.
Riverside Group finalised its merger with English Churches Housing Group (ECHG). The merger will protect and develop the quality of tenant services in both organisations and see ECHG retain its name as a Riverside Group subsidiary.
The merger with ECHG will enable Riverside Group to meet several of its strategic objectives, including market diversification and exploiting the benefits of growth by gaining economies of scale. It will also secure the financial future of ECHG.
Founded in 1928 as Liverpool Improved Houses, Riverside now owns or manages 50,000 properties across the country.
ECHG will continue to specialise in sheltered and supported housing for elderly, homeless and vulnerable people. It will incorporate Riverside's sheltered and supported division, Riverside Assisted Living, which is based in Runcorn.
Under the agreement, ECHG's general needs housing will be transferred to other parts of Riverside Group and a new business unit, Riverside South East, formed.
One of Peterborough's oldest housing associations is getting a new lease of life thanks Axiom Housing Association, which has stepped in to take up the running of its properties.
Pantiles Housing Association was founded in the late 1920's to provide 12 two-bedroom low-cost homes, located on All Saint's Road, for professionals such as teachers, solicitors and nurses. Pantiles recently approached Axiom Housing Association with a proposal to take over the ownership and maintenance of the properties - something that Axiom was delighted to do.
As part of the take over, Axiom will be modernising the flats. Kitchens will be turned into shower rooms, while second bedrooms will become kitchens. Other improvements include double-glazing and extra security lighting.
The Housing Corporation announced that, following a series of improvements, it has removed United Housing Association from supervision.
The Corporation placed United, which owns and manages around 890 homes in Bristol and surrounding areas, under supervision in June 2005 because of concerns about its governance and management. The Corporation used its statutory power to make three appointments to the Board of the association.
In response to the concerns raised by the Corporation, United HA drew up a comprehensive supervision action plan. It has now delivered all the key action points, and, as a result, it has been removed from supervision. The appointees, Joyce Batten, Mike Hanrahan and Peter Latchford, are standing down from the Board.
Garden loving tenants and residents celebrated their glorious gardens at Wakefield and District Housing's (WDH) second Annual Garden Awards.
Almost 300 people living on WDH estates have been showcasing their beautifully kept gardens this year, and the awards mark the efforts of both the winners and those who have worked tirelessly to keep their plants and shrubbery looking their finest.
There are prestigious awards for the Best Garden and Gardener in each district, Best Vegetable Garden, Best Containers and Hanging Baskets, and Most Improved Garden.
There is the increasingly popular Community Garden Award, which recognises people's contributions to improving the look of their neighbourhood, and there are also several trophies and medals for children who have offered a helping hand to keep gardens and estates tidy.
As part of a programme of events aimed at promoting European Safety Week for Young People, Wirral Partnership Homes carried out a number of half-day awareness raising sessions with groups of construction students who are studying at Wirral Metropolitan College.
Staff worked with groups of full and part-time students training in joinery, bricklaying, painting and decorating, to advise and inform about the risks associated with working in the construction industry and to provide a specific training course about asbestos awareness.
Control of Payments to RSL Members, Officers & Employees: Revising Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Housing Act 1996
This consultation paper looks at ways of minimising the regulatory burden on RSLs within the confines of the existing legislative framework. It concentrates on Paragraph 2 of Schedule 1, Housing Act 1996, which provides that the Housing Corporation may make general or specific determinations to allow payments or benefits. Comments are invited on the proposed changes to the current general determination by 9 January 2007.
Good Practice Note 11: Making Groups Work: Guidance on Group Structures and the Obligations in Our Regulatory Code. Revised November 2006.
This guidance explains the Corporation's basic requirements for existing and new group structures. In doing so, it exemplifies the basic obligations in its Regulatory Code as they apply to groups, as well as providing further details of how its published registration criteria apply to parents and subsidiaries.