Inspirational Carolina is a Housing Hero
A Manningham Housing Association (MHA) employee who paved the way for the Bradford-based organisation to become the first housing association in the world to achieve the global Standard for Diversity and Inclusion for HR Management has been named Inspirational Colleague of the Year at the Housing Heroes Awards 2024. Carolina Padovezi de Oliveira, who joined…
Yasper Lands BR2.0 Brief
Leeds-based PR agency Yasper has been appointed by BR2.0 to deliver a media relations and content brief across its group businesses. Yasper will initially be tasked with supporting the firm as it moves its headquarters to Manchester city centre and launches new brands, Xpercity and Inspired, which will sit alongside its established construction business, Big Red, to…
Affordable homes scheme underscores association’s strong commitment to Keighley
The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has spoken of his pride after the organisation handed over the keys to new tenants of 11 properties which make up the first phase of a new development of 20 affordable homes in Keighley. The remaining nine properties are nearing completion and will be occupied later this…
West Yorkshire homebuilder’s gardens given wildlife-friendly accreditation
Leading developer David Wilson Homes has received accreditation from the RSPB for the wildlife-friendly gardens at its Centurion Meadows development in Burley in Wharfedale. As part of its corporate partnership, the housebuilder has created gardens in line with RSPB guidance, in a bid to create a welcoming space for wildlife and to inspire new homeowners…
West Yorkshire school’s launch event supported by local housebuilder
Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West were recently invited to Southroyd Primary School in Pudsey, where the team watched the children perform their Leeds Rhinos Dance Spectacular, to mark the launch of the school’s exciting new eco-friendly building project – ‘The Cabin’. Representatives of the housebuilder’s Commercial team visited Southroyd Primary School, located near…
A fine line: top tips for a suitable work-life balance at home
North Yorkshire housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has compiled a series of top tips to achieve a good work-life balance. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week (13th to 19th May), the leading homebuilders are stressing the importance of making sure work and home life are kept separate. This year’s theme is “Movement: Moving…
Bradford’s largest housing provider opens new hubs in the community
Housing provider Incommunities has opened two of a planned five local community hubs, helping customers to access their services face-to-face. The hubs will mean that customers in Allerton, Bradford and Deighton, Huddersfield can speak to Incommunities staff without having to travel to Shipley or making a home appointment. The two new hubs are located at…
YorHome announces home improvement grants and 12 months rent up-front for new landlords
City of York Council’s not-for-profit letting agency YorHome is offering new incentives for landlords signing with us. Besides offering probably the lowest management fees in the city, we’re now offering market-beating benefits of 12-month’s rent up front and funding for certain home improvements. Anyone with a residential property in or immediately around York who is…
Major refurbishment to Glen Lodge’s original building starts
After adding 27 extra homes to Glen Lodge in 2018, work is starting to refurbish and make the 32 original apartments more energy-efficient, accessible and comfortable. This popular independent living community in Heworth was originally built in the 1970s and a £4 million investment in 2018 added 25 new apartments and two new bungalows to…
Mix of private and public sector investment keeping Yorkshire & Humber market strong says latest market intelligence from RLB
Leading construction and property management consultants, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) claim that the market in Yorkshire & Humber continues to be strong thanks to a steady level of activity and new starts across a mix of public and private sector projects with clients planning new developments as well as rationalising existing assets, according to…
Relentless dedication earns Housing Hero status for Carolina
Carolina Padovezi de Oliveira, Corporate Project Manager at Manningham Housing Association (MHA) in Bradford, has been shortlisted in the Inspirational Colleague of the Year category for the Housing Heroes Awards 2024. Organised by Inside Housing magazine, the awards celebrate “the leaders, innovators and changemakers across the housing sector.” Originally from Brazil, Carolina joined MHA as…
Yorkshire & Humber shows strong market with more competitive procurement approach
Local Yorkshire construction and property management consultancy, RLB UK’s fifth annual Procurement Trends report reveals that Yorkshire & Humber shows a strong market and more competitive procurement practices than the national picture. Indicators such as Yorkshire having the highest proportion of single-stage projects and with single-stage procurement activity likely to continue going forward, show confidence…
Hot proper-tea: coffee’s the top pick for West Yorkshire developer
With Yorkshire being home to one of the most iconic tea brands in the world, employees at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West have revealed their first choice for hot drinks in celebration of National Tea Day (Sunday 21st April). The survey interviewed employees both on developments and at head office, and shockingly revealed…
Manningham Housing Association shuts down X account
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has closed its account on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a statement, a spokesperson for MHA – which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley – said: “Following a review of our internal and external communications strategy, we have decided to withdraw from X….
West Yorkshire homebuilder awarded five stars by customers for 15th consecutive year
Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has once again received the maximum five star rating in the new Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. This is the fifteenth year in a row that parent company, Barratt Developments, has achieved the top five star rating – far longer than any other…
Leeds Beckett University collaboration to drive innovation in construction industry
Construction innovation experts at Leeds Beckett University have partnered with Yorkshire’s largest public sector procurement framework organisation to drive innovation in the construction sector and boost opportunities for small businesses in the region. Leeds Beckett University will work with YORhub to create a Supply Chain Engagement Toolkit. This aims to increase the number and diversity…
New Yorkshire Building Society mortgage helps first-time buyers get on the housing ladder earlier, for just £5k
Yorkshire Building Society is today launching its new and innovative £5k Deposit Mortgage to help tackle one of the biggest issues preventing people from achieving their homeownership dreams. The new mortgage is available directly to customers and via brokers through Accord Mortgages – the lender’s intermediary-only arm. This new and innovative product, believed to be…
Andrew Jackson advises on yew tree farm development
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP announces that it has advised Huddersfield-based John Radcliffe & Sons, thought to be the oldest development company in the north of England, on the purchase of land at Yew Tree Farm in Farnley Tyas, West Yorkshire. Radcliffe Developments Farnley has already developed 31 houses in Farnley Tyas on…
Cym D’Souza joins Manningham Housing Association as Vice Chair
Cym D’Souza has been appointed Vice Chair of Manningham Housing Association (MHA). She previously served as Chief Executive of Manchester-based Arawak Walton Housing Association, stepping down last autumn after almost 25 years in the post. Ms D’Souza is a well-known figure in UK housing having served from 2012-23 as Chair of BME National, the umbrella…
Farming partnerships: beware the higher rate Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) charge on additional dwellings
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) can be a significant cost on property transactions – and an area that farming partnerships need to be aware of, says Andrew Jackson’s tax partner, Fiona Phillips It is well known that partnerships are treated for the purposes of income tax as tax transparent, with the profits from the trade…
New Manningham Housing Association website goes live
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has launched a new website in the latest stage in the roll-out of its three-year digital business strategy. Delivered in partnership with Yorkshire-based creative design agency Redbak, the redesign seeks to improve accessibility for customers and project partners with a more modern, sleeker look. The revamped site incorporates numerous additional features…
Budget 2024: Housing association tenants were far from the Chancellor’s thoughts
The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has responded to today’s Budget. In a statement, Lee Bloomfield said: “It is disappointing but not surprising that a commitment to build many more urgently needed affordable homes was absent from the Chancellor’s remarks. “Alongside the six-month extension to the Household Support Fund, the well-trailed cut…
Leeds Beckett University and ARC launch building insulation innovations
An Innovate UK-funded partnership with Leeds Beckett University has shaped the future success of Leeds-based ARC Building Solutions – implementing a New Product Development (NPD) department within ARC which has created, developed, and brought to market two new innovative building insulation and fire safety products. ARC – a specialist manufacturer of cavity fire barriers and…
More homes proposed for Council’s low-energy, 100% affordable Ordnance Lane site
A new planning application is proposing an extra 16 low-energy, 100% affordable homes at the Council’s Ordnance Lane site, to be set in even more green space. Following Executive’s decision in November 2023 to build 100% affordable homes off Fulford Road, these zero-carbon in use homes are proposed to increase in number from 85 to…
Leeds College of Building overwhelmed by generous construction crafts donation
Teaching staff at Leeds College of Building are elated after receiving eleven articulated trailers of equipment donated by Legal & General. The materials and tools will be used to train the next generation of construction professionals enrolled across the College’s North Street and South Bank Campuses. The donation includes 60 pallets of fire, moisture, and…
Two new self-build plots available on Dane Avenue
In response to the need for more homes in the city and following the success of Lowfield Green’s six self-build plots which featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs, City of York Council is offering two new opportunities for self-builders. These plots are to support people to get on the housing ladder by building their own…
Align announces exciting opportunities for highways and infrastructure professionals
Align, the award winning, multi-discipline building design consultancy, is gearing up for an expansive and growth-driven year in 2024. As the year promises to be the busiest in our history, and with a host of new projects in the pipeline, we are thrilled to announce opportunities for passionate individuals to join our Highways and Bridge…
Local partnerships help York students build their future in construction
Students in York have been learning about careers in the construction industry this month, gaining valuable real-world experience of a wide range of different roles. Year 11 students were given an opportunity to experience life as an apprentice at a range of local businesses across the city last week [18 January]. The construction sector is…
Survey of all York’s council homes begins ahead of developing investment plans
City of York Council is about to start looking at every single one of its council homes through a stock condition survey. This survey of council homes will gather the information needed to plan and fund an improvement programme which regularly invests £10 million per year in the modernisation of the council’s 7,400 homes. The…
2024 can be year of renewed hope for Bradford – Manningham Housing Association
The Chief Executive and Chair of Manningham Housing Association have said that 2024 can be “a year of renewed hope and expectation” for the district’s residents as Bradford prepares to become UK City of Culture 2025. In a joint New Year message, Lee Bloomfield and Rupert Pometsey also spoke of their belief that, despite a…
Further growth for Andrew Jackson’s real estate and property team
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP announces that Kirsty Barsby has joined its real estate and property team as a partner, further strengthening the firm’s client services offering across the region and beyond. With over 18 years’ experience across a broad range of property matters, Kirsty’s clients operate across several sectors including hotel and leisure, residential and…
A fond farewell as Manningham Housing Association Chair steps down
The Chief Executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has paid tribute to the Bradford-based organisation’s Chair, Barrington Billings, who is stepping down at the end of December after more than six and a half years in the role. Mr Billings has more than three decades of experience in the housing sector and is currently Head…
Incommunities appoints new Director of Communities
A 22,650-home housing association based in Bradford has appointed a new Director of Communities Bradford based housing provider Incommunities has appointed Patrick Collins as its new Director of Communities. Patrick joined Incommunities in November 2020, as Head of Neighbourhood Management. He has more than 30 years’ experience in the housing sector and before joining…
Manningham Housing Association is top of the bots
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has launched a new WhatsApp bot to boost around the clock assistance for tenants. The application is designed to answer common questions relating to MHA’s services including rent payments, maintenance requests and other tenant support via a real-time automated conversational experience. It will also provide useful information about the association’s properties…
Housing association and partners visit local scheme
Kinara Close in Keighley was the centre of attention when Bradford Council Neighbourhood Wardens and representatives of West Yorkshire Police and Bradford District Credit Union joined Manningham Housing Association (MHA) board and staff members on a special visit to engage with local residents. It was the latest in a series of Scheme Focus events organised…
King’s Speech lacks commitment to build more affordable homes – housing association CEO
The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has criticised the government for failing to include a firm commitment in the King’s Speech to build more new affordable homes. In a statement, Lee Bloomfield said the speech – which is written by Ministers but delivered by King Charles – highlighted that taking homeless people off the streets…
Globe Point almost fully let as sixth new tenant secured
International law firm Gowling WLG is moving into the fifth floor at Globe Point in Leeds on a long-term lease. Relocating from Park Row in the city, Gowling WLG will occupy a 4,477 sq ft suite with a dedicated exterior 1,970 sq ft terrace. The company is the sixth tenant to sign up at the…
Solberge Hall has been sold to luxury wedding company Wharfedale Grange
Solberge Hall in Northallerton has been acquired by wedding and events company Wharfedale Grange for an undisclosed sum. The 24-bedroom Georgian country house hotel is set in 9 acres of woodland situated near the North Yorkshire Moors and Yorkshire Dales. It has been owned by Classic Lodges hotel group since 2015 when it was purchased…
Affordable homes to be built on site of former flats at Valley Road, Shipley
Bradford-based housing provider Incommunities has begun clearing the way for the construction of 42 new affordable homes on the site of former flats at Valley Road. Following the site clearance, Casey Construction will begin building the new homes over the next few weeks, with construction expected to be complete in summer 2024. The new development,…
Barratt Developments – trading environment remains tough
Barratt Developments, one of the UK’s largest housebuilders, has released an AGM trading update for the period from 1 July to 8 October: · Trading environment remains difficult · Forward sales significantly down on last year at 9,221 homes (2022: 13,314 homes) · Barratt continues to target total home completions of 13,250 to 14,250 in FY24 Charlie Huggins, Manager of…
Concrete admixture manufacturer marks 40 years with significant growth
Bradford-based concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete is marking 40 years in business with further growth and an increased shareholding in its Northern Ireland division. Oscrete, a subsidiary of Christeyns, is one of the UK’s leading specialist construction chemical suppliers which manufactures and supplies a range of concrete admixtures for precast and ready-mix concrete and the ready-to-use…
Two new occupiers move into Number One Kirkstall Forge
Two deals have been secured for space at the Kirkstall Forge development in Leeds. American firm, Buildings IOT, is opening its first UK base as part of its cross Atlantic expansion plans and local firm, CPA Consulting Engineers, is moving to accommodate its continued long term growth plans. In keeping with the exceptional sustainability credentials…
Exciting new platform for Baul music as Bradford prepares for UK City of Culture 2025
A collection of more than 100 original songs of South Asian heritage by Bradford and Keighley writers has been launched at a celebratory event with support from Manningham Housing Association (MHA), Bradford Council and The Leap. The project was the brainchild of Sadar Uddin, MHA Community Partnership and Investment Manager, as a vehicle to revive,…
Action needed to support BAME housing association residents into smaller homes
The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has told a Westminster inquiry there needs to be better choices for older people from BAME communities to downsize their properties and receive a better offer of accommodation – in terms of both quality and location. Giving evidence in the House of Lords to the All-Party Parliamentary…
New corporate strategy for housing association ‘at the top of its game’
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has published a new streamlined corporate strategy and action plan with the theme of ‘Investing and Developing in Diverse Neighbourhoods where People Want to Live and Thrive.’ The three-year strategy centres on four overarching objectives: Providing More Affordable Homes, Looking After Our Existing Homes and Tenants, Community Investment and Partnership, and…
New corporate strategy for housing association ‘at the top of its game’
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has published a new streamlined corporate strategy and action plan with the theme of ‘Investing and Developing in Diverse Neighbourhoods where People Want to Live and Thrive.’ The three-year strategy centres on four overarching objectives: Providing More Affordable Homes, Looking After Our Existing Homes and Tenants, Community Investment and Partnership, and…
Housing association CEO challenges Government to deliver more homes in Bradford
The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has written to Michael Gove questioning why the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) failed to spend almost £2 billion of allocated funding to deliver more affordable homes. In his letter, Lee Bloomfield added: “It is a shame that neither you nor your officials chose…
Helmsley Group demonstrates further high street commitment with Big Tent festival sponsorship
Property investment and development specialist, Helmsley Group, has announced its support of the Big Tent Ideas Festival in York. Taking place on Saturday 17th June, the Big Tent Ideas Festival invites political representatives and prominent names in media, business and academia to take part in a wide range of discussions on subjects including devolution, social…