Constantly raising the bar

Trent & Dove Housing has completed its Decent Homes Standards programme nine months ahead of schedule but there is no chance of this organisation resting on its laurels

Having invested circa £61 million in improving its properties and around £31 million on development and regeneration Trent & Dove is now ploughing ahead with its new build programme, having already doubled its target for 2008 – 2009 by building 116 new homes.

It is working with Bullock Construction, one of its strategic framework development partners, Staffordshire County Council, Matrix Consortium, East Staffordshire Borough Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to create a state-of-the-art Extra Care development that will be the first of its kind in Burton.

The scheme, which will be built on the site of two existing sheltered housing schemes, A nglesey Court (T&D) and Horace Pritchard (SCC) will provide 67, one and two-bedroom apartments for affordable rent and shared ownership and facilities such as a café/restaurant, salon, residents lounge, resource room and sensory garden.

Other ongoing projects include the £4 million redevelopment of a former Trading Standards building to create 32 apartments for rent and shared ownership, with William Davis, another one of T&D’s strategic framework development partners.

Following the completion of the Decent Homes programme the average SAP (2005) energy rating for T rent & Dove’s housing stock has gone up from 37 in 2001 to 71, as of 31 March.

The programme included cavity wall and loft insulation, the installation of grade A energy efficient boilers, central heating, new high security external doors, double glazed windows, kitchen and bathrooms, new roofs, rewires and millions of pounds worth of estate improvements established and prioritised by tenants and residents.

“We are now looking at alternative energies,” explains Steve Grocock, director of property services. “We have trialled solar panels and have been monitoring the results for about 18 months, comparing bills now with what they previously were and how tenants use the new technology.”

Several properties have also been fitted with air source heat pumps. “The initial response from tenants is that they are delighted as they can have the heating on whenever they want which is better for their health,” says Grocock. “It is also better for the property because you don’t get massive temperature differentials and properties prefer a constant temperature so maintenance will reduce as a result.”

This green approach also extends to Trent & Dove’s offices, where waste bins have been banned in the property services department, forcing people to recycle and leading to a reduction in general waste going to landfill.

It is also hoping to start a green travel plan to reduce car usage by employees with proposals including parking spaces for those who car share and interest free loans for staff to buy bicycles and associated maintenance and safety equipment.

The green measures are not just about the environment but also giving tenants and residents a better quality of life and customers are always fully consulted. In fact there is a scrutiny panel, made up solely of tenants, which reports to the board on policy and procedures, as well as service delivery. “We are very far ahead of the game with tenant and resident engagement. We are accountable to the tenants and they have a large say on shaping our services and setting budgets,” says Grocock. “Also, half of our governance structure is made up of tenants so straight away they have got a 50 per cent stake in the company at the highest level.”

The organisation actively promotes employment and training opportunities for local people, hosting an open day promoting employment opportunities with its contract partners and jointly funding apprentices. It is also working with Burton College to allow NVQ students who have been made redundant from other companies, to complete practical work with Trent & Dove to enable them to complete their qualification.

“We have a policy of continuous improvement in all areas so nothing ever goes backwards or stands still, we are always lifting the bar to improve services, to become more customer-focused,” Grocock said.