JV North is teaming up with contractors and consultants to shape its next multi-million pound framework.
The consortium’s current £180 million framework comes to an end next year.
Contractors, architects, employer’s agents, land agents and housebuilders are now attending workshop sessions to shape how the new model will work.
JV North is discussing if the traditional framework of having separate lists for contractors and consultants who are asked to tender is still relevant.
The collaboration is also exploring if more flexibility such as mini-tenders and the ability to call-off, an option to add others to the lists and a broader scope of professional services is required.
The working group will also consider the lots to be offered.
JV North Chairman Wayne Gales, who is also Chief Executive of Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “As a consortium we will be making an ambitious bid to Homes England for grant funding in the £12bn five-year affordable homes programme starting next year.
“There is huge demand for high-quality affordable housing across our communities and JV North members are determined to play a leading role addressing this national crisis.
“How our framework is structured will be crucial in helping us build more homes faster, more efficiently and greener than ever before.
“By collaborating in the planning stage we can create a procurement route that benefits housing associations, local authorities, developers, contractors and consultants.
“The framework will be more efficient and allow everyone to share value and ultimately increase the supply of new homes.”
JV North is also asking contractors and consultants what it can offer and do differently in the new framework to create stronger working partnerships especially in light of Covid-19.
“The pandemic has changed the housebuilding landscape,” adds Mr Gales.
“Housing associations need to share contractors’ and consultants’ risks because they are key pieces of the homebuilding jigsaw.
“By supporting the financial sustainability of our partners we are backing recently announced government interventions in terms of employment generation, preventing redundancies and creating opportunities for the skilled workforce needed across all supply chain and client teams in the future.
“We also want to take a new and more sustainable approach to social value, working side-by-side with all our stakeholders.”
JV North is building over 4,550 homes in the current 2016/21 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme with members investing nearly half a billion pounds having secured £150m of Homes England grant.
By the end of the current Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme, JV North members will have built 8,500 homes and invested close to £1 billion since forming a decade ago.
Photograph: JV North Chairman Wayne Gales with Saffer Cooper Consultancy’s Sean Stafford who is managing the framework.