by Kim Pidgeon | Feb 15, 2025 | News
Latest news from the London and southern England housing association
A2Dominion have appointed a resident member to their Group Board.
Coretta Scott is the first person to take the position at the housing association, which has been created to ensure customers’ voices are included in every part of the organisation and its decision making.
Coretta has been a member of A2Dominion’s Customer Service Committee since 2022 and has been actively involved in residents’ groups since 2012. “I’m excited and honoured to become A2Dominion’s first resident Board member,” said Coretta.
“Having a seat at the table where decisions are made ensures some representation and enables residents’ views and voices to be heard and understood. I look forward to working with the Board and the Customer Service Committee to support A2Dominion with helping residents receive the services they need and deserve.”
Coretta is an Asset Project Delivery Manager at Notting Hill Genesis, and has worked in various roles within customer, neighbourhood, and housing services. She is an experienced housing professional who has worked in the housing sector since 2006. She previously volunteered with Ealing Council as a School Appeals Panel Member, and with Shepherd’s Bush Housing as a Peer Supporter.
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A2Dominion opens new key worker accommodation in Oxford
The social landlord has officially celebrated the opening of its new key worker accommodation at the John Radcliffe Hospital (JRH) in Oxford.
Housebuilder The Hill Group, who were appointed in 2022 to deliver the scheme, were in attendance along with colleagues from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) and Oxford Hospitals Charity.
OUH is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in England constituting four major hospitals in Oxford and the project at the JRH is one of many supported by the Oxford Hospitals Charity.
The ribbon cutting marked the completion of phase one of the project, which will ultimately replace the previous accommodation with seven modern apartment buildings.
Dorcas, an A2Dominion resident at the Ivy Lane accommodation and nurse at the nearby Churchill Hospital, cut the ribbon.
“I was previously in the old Ivy Lane flats and recently moved in here along with the rest of the tenants,” said Dorcas. “The new flats are definitely an upgrade – I really love it.
“These new flats are well designed, spacious and well-ventilated, with bigger windows for more natural light. The facilities are excellent.
“I was surprised to see how this has made a significant improvement in the comfort and wellbeing of my family and I. When I’m back at home, I’m comfortable, what I need is available for me. So, when I go back to work it has enabled me to work effectively.”
The completion of phase one includes 90 new homes in total, comprising 12 self-contained one-bed apartments, 11 studios, 23 two-bed self-contained family apartments, 16 four-bed and 25 five-bedroom shared apartments, and three homes specially configured for disabled tenants.
The second and final phase is due to complete in 2026.
Once phase two is completed, the seven new apartment buildings will house at least 340 key workers across 125 residential properties.
by Kim Pidgeon | Nov 15, 2024 | News
Regulator of Social Housing, Homes England, Hightown and A2 Dominion
Hightown Housing Association
Qadeer Kiani OBE has been elected Chair of the Board of Hightown Housing Association.
He succeeds Bob Macnaughton who held the position since 2017 and had been a Board member for nine years.
Kani has a wealth of experience which spans over 30 years in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
He now manages his own successful Housing and Management Consultancy Practice which he founded in 2007 to help social housing organisations to effectively manage their performance, people and partnerships.
Kiani commented: “I have a passion for customer driven housing services and making a difference to the lives of others. Therefore, I want to make sure that we can continue to deliver on Hightown’s mission of building homes and supporting people.”
A2 Dominion
A2 Dominion has appointed Graham Gregg as its new interim Director of Financial Services.
He joins from Sovereign Network Housing, where he served as Director of Accounting Services.
Gregg has more than 20 years’ experience in the housing sector and has held a variety of finance leadership roles with Southern Housing and Network Homes.
At A2Dominion, Gregg takes on responsibility for statutory financial reporting as well as operational finance.
Tracey Barnes, Chief Finance Officer said: “Graham has vast experience of working in the housing sector and brings specialist knowledge of improving financial performance.
“We look forward to working with Graham to help shape the finance function and deliver better results for our customers.”
Homes England
Homes England has announced two leadership changes.
The government’s housing and regeneration agency has confirmed that Chair Peter Freeman and Chief Executive Peter Denton will be stepping down from their roles after four years leading the Agency together.
Peter Freeman will handover to his successor when the recruitment of a new Chair is completed later next year.
Peter Denton will be standing down from his role as Chief Executive in January 2025 with Eamonn Boylan joining the Agency as interim CEO from 15 January.
Matthew Pennycook, the Housing and Planning Minister said: ”On behalf of the government, I would like to thank Peter Freeman and Peter Denton for their leadership of the Agency over recent years.
“Their efforts have been integral to reshaping Homes England into an effective national housing and regeneration agency that is increasingly focused on exemplary place-based regeneration and placemaking as well as new housing supply. I wish both Peters all the best in their future endeavours.”
Regulator of Social Housing
Two new non-executive directors (NEDs) have been appointed to the Board of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister, has confirmed the appointment of John Liver and Robert Light.
The RSH undertakes regulation of providers of social housing registered with it, considering how landlords are delivering the outcomes set out in its regulatory standards.
This is an important time for the RSH following the introduction of the strengthened consumer regulation regime in April 2024, which includes routine inspections of large social landlords.
John Liver has been appointed as Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for a term of four years and Robert Light has been appointed as a NED for a term of three years with a focus on consumers.
