Wates joins Inspiral consortium

Affordable housing contractor Wates Living Space has joined the Inspiral consortium, replacing previous contractor, Rok.

The consortium, which also comprises Regenter and Great Places, has recently been selected as preferred bidder by Oldham Council to deliver the £130million Gateways to Oldham housing private finance initiative.

The public private partnership will transform five ‘gateway’ neighbourhoods of Crossley, Primrose Bank, Coldhurst, Westwood and Fitton Hill into diverse and attractive residential areas. Oldham Council anticipates signing a contract with Inspiral in the first quarter of 2011.

Wates Living Space will be responsible for the building and refurbishment work and will also run the repairs contract. Great Places will be responsible for neighbourhood management.

The Inspiral consortium also hopes to be selected to deliver the Creating A New Pendleton housing private finance initiative for Salford City Council, for which Wates Living Space will also work with Regenter and Great Places.

Jim Saunders, managing director of Regenter said: “Wates has proven credentials when it comes to delivering high quality regeneration projects and their experience in this sector will be a real asset to the consortium.”

Stephen Porter, chief executive of Great Places Housing Group, added: “We are delighted to have Wates Living Space on board. We believe they will be a great partner for our current projects and will help to give us every chance of success in our bid for the Creating A New Pendleton housing project.”

Ian Burnett, managing director for Wates Living Space commented: “We are delighted to have joined the Inspiral consortium and are looking forward to delivering the Gateways to Oldham private finance initiative. We hope our experience of delivering such projects will lead to our successful appointment to the Creating A New Pendleton housing private finance initiative for Salford City Council.”