Features

Halton heading ever onwards

Just as the organisation has spent the last four years transforming the homes of its customers, so Halton Housing Trust has worked hard on changing its own culture. The result is an organisation that is working with its customers to take its services to the next level

Battle of the bulge

There is no getting away from the fact that we as a nation are getting fatter. The issue of obesity is never out of the media and Government initiatives are constantly being launched to help us get fi tter. But how does the housing sector squeeze into all of this? Michelle McKenna investigates

RSLs can help to build the builders

Housing associations can help the construction industry retain their trainee numbers through the recession and so avoid a future skills gap, says ConstructionSkills. Northern Housing spoke to Nigel Donohue, its apprenticeship programme manager

First class

When Gateshead Council set up its ALMO a scaled-down housing department could have been on the cards but instead of stepping back it has continued to offer a first-class service and has even expanded its team

Crossing the threshold to independence

Threshold specialises in helping people at risk of homelessness overcome the many issues that might prevent them maintaining their independence

Follow the leader

As the first local authority in Wales to get started on bringing its housing stock up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) Denbighshire County Council could be described as a leader in
the improvements field

Home in the hillside

So, how do you turn a country cottage into a large family house without overreaching the bijou footprint or harming the green belt? Easy, just dig deep and build underground. Northern Housing takes a look at a ‘futuristic’ subterranean retreat in leafy Cheshire

Last word on Labour?

The pageantry of our time honoured constitutional monarchy has been wheeled out for – perhaps – the last time in this, the longest, continuous era of Labour governance. So, what did the Queen’s Speech herald for the housing world in these final months before the General Election? Mark Cantrell reports

Keeping regeneration close to home

Thornton Contractors is a medium-sized family business that has specialised in working with social housing clients and is committed to the local community

Making the most of Merseyside

With its historic skyline, musical pedigree and two premier league football teams, not to mention its recent stint as European Capital of Culture the city of Liverpool and region of Merseyside has plenty to shout about. Michelle McKenna takes a look at the history of the area and how the events of the past have shaped the area today