JV North appoints contractors and consultants to £560m framework

Social housing consortium JV North has appointed 24 contractors and consultants to its £560m homebuilding framework.

The consortium, which has 13 members made up of housing associations and local authorities from across the north-west and is described as one of the biggest developers of new social homes in the UK, tendered the four-year framework in April.

Members include Bury Council, Johnnie Johnson Housing, One Manchester, Peaks and Plains Housing Trust, Muir Group, Plus Dane Housing, Sovini, Stockport Homes, Stockport Council, Torus, Trafford Housing Trust, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.

The framework will help JV North build in the region of 4,000 homes between 2021 and 2025. A total of 24 contractors were appointed to bands valued at £1m to £4m, £4m to £10m, and £10m and over.

• ENGIE Regeneration, United Living (North), Lovell Partnerships, Rowlinson, Seddon Construction, Anwyl Partnerships and Vistry Partnerships have been chosen for the £10m and over category;
• The £4m to £10m band has seen United Living (North), ENGIE Regeneration, Crossfield Group, The Casey Group, Seddon Construction, Whitfield & Brown (Developments), Termrim Construction and Penny Lane Builders appointed;
• J Greenwood (Builders), John Southworth Builders, The Casey Group, Crossfield Group, Whitfield & Brown (Developments), RP Tyson Construction, Termrim Construction, HMS and Wiggett Construction Group have been selected to the £1m to £4m band.

Professional services companies have been appointed to nine different lots to help JV North members design, build, rent and sell homes.

• John McCall Architects, Halsall Lloyd, BTP Architects, Levitt Bernstein Associates, LJ Architects, PRP, BYA, Paddock Johnson Partnership, Pozzoni Architecture and Jennings Design Associates were chosen for the architecture lot;
• Eight employers agents were appointed: AA Projects, Neo Projects, Wilkinson Cowan Partnership, Poole Dick Associates, Identity Consult, Markhams, Anderton Gables and Simon Fenton Partnership;
• Purchaser agents AA Projects, Simon Fenton Partnership, Markhams, Neo Projects and Arcus Consulting were chosen;
• The principal designer lot has Poole Dick Associates, RJD Associates (North West), WhiteleyEaves, Markhams, AA Projects, Arcus Consulting, Sutcliffe Projects and BYA;
• Four structural engineers were selected: Shape Consulting Engineers, Curtins Consulting, Sutcliffe Projects and Dice Consulting Engineers;
• Mechanical and electrical engineers Davies Partnership, Troup Bywaters + Anders, ECS Consultants and Hulley & Kirkwood Consulting Engineers were appointed;
• Aspin and Company was selected to the valuers lot while planning consultants DPP One, Iceni Projects, Pegasus Planning Group and Tetra Tech were appointed;
• Six clerk of works were chosen: Wilkinson Cowan Partnership, Arcus Consulting, Capita Property and Infrastructure, LB Partners, Rider Levett Bucknall and Waldeck Associates.

Wayne Gales, JV North chairman and chief executive at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “Previous frameworks have been very successful and the consortium would like to thank the companies involved, many of whom have been appointed again as we look to build even more homes. Our new framework focuses on not only addressing the housing crisis but working together with contractors and consultants to create efficient and high quality homes that contribute positively to the communities in which they are situated.

“The building back fairer principle underpinning this framework will see the companies appointed working with our members to also provide clear social value outcomes, addressing key issues such as inequality, poor health, unemployment and apprenticeships. This framework and the relationships formed with all partners is going to be critical post-pandemic when the extent of the human and financial impact of Covid-19 is clear.”

The framework is managed by Saffer Cooper Consultancy and director Sean Stafford, said: “The framework was heavily oversubscribed with more than 180 bids of excellent quality and we would like to thank everyone who applied. With a strong development pipeline in place, members will be calling off from the framework immediately with inception sessions being held in the coming weeks. It will give JV North members the platform to continue its fantastic track record of delivery.”

JV North was assisted by international law firm Trowers & Hamlins.