Manchester City Council has appointed local housing provider Guinness Northern Counties to manage its first new council-funded homes in West Gorton.
Under the five year deal announced today, Guinness Northern Counties will oversee the rehousing of tenants from up to 380 existing council properties and the provision of 171 modern energy efficient homes for rent.
The new homes, being funded through an £11m Local Authority New Build grant and prudential borrowing by the City Council, are being built by developers Bramall and GB Homes with completion set for March 2012.
Guinness Northern Counties’ role will include supporting tenants throughout the process and re-letting and managing the new homes once they are complete.
Allan Ramsay, Guinness Northern Counties’ Director of Investment and Regeneration, said: “We are delighted to have been selected for this important task. It follows a rigorous competitive tender in which residents were very much involved in selecting the neighbourhood manager. We would like to thank both residents and the Council for this major vote of confidence in our continued ability to deliver on our promises to them.”
He added: “Guinness Northern Counties has a strong existing presence in West Gorton and following the stock transfer from the Council in September last year, already owns 319 homes on the estate with a further 33 in development.
“Along with our maintenance contractors City Response Ltd, we are currently underway with a comprehensive £5.4m stock improvement programme for the 144 transferred homes and are closely involved in the wider regeneration partnership for the neighbourhood. GNC’s appointment as management contractor re-enforces our commitment to the area and provides a simple one-stop-shop for local residents and agencies.’
We are now finalising the details of the contract and the start date with the council and have recruited locally for a number of new posts to be based at our neighbourhood office in Anthony Close, West Gorton.”
Cllr Paul Andrews, Manchester City Council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “West Gorton is a long term regeneration priority for us. We, along with all partners involved, are committed to delivering sustainable plans for the transformation of this neighbourhood, creating new homes and amenities along with a more attractive environment for residents to live. I am sure Guinness Northern Counties will play an important part in delivering this.”