Description
whg holds a significant portfolio of over 500 small, and under-utilised sites across its core operating area as well as a number of corporate assets that will require regenerating over the next few years. These include vacated garage courts, infill land parcels, low-demand parking areas and ageing flatted schemes, which currently present unrealised asset value. The pipeline of small sites suggests 300 plus remaining garage sites with an average developable rate of 50% that could generate between 400 and 600 homes from the emerging regeneration portfolio.
If redeveloped, these corporate assets could contribute significantly to the supply of new homes, aligning with whg’s Development and Regeneration Strategy, meeting local housing needs and affordable housing supply.
whg have established a structured approach to unlocking small-site development opportunities. Alongside the provision of new homes, this will support neighbourhood renewal, reduce long-term maintenance liabilities, and as a result provide opportunities to deliver social value.
Having delivered 2 clusters of small sites thus far, with a third about to commence, we now have a further 3 clusters of sites in varying stages of planning. It is expected that up to 200 new homes could be delivered within the next two years. This could increase rapidly when further opportunities emerge over the life of the development strategy period to 2030.
To support delivery of our new homes target whg is currently considering undertaking a procurement process to establish a framework agreement, appointing contractors with the capability and capacity who would be best placed to deliver this type of work. To complement this framework approach, whg have a suite of standards including a JCT contract with whg's schedule of amendments, standard house types and a design brief that sits alongside defining place making, design, materials, performance and quality amongst other aspects.
We wish to engage with contractors in the supply market to help shape and inform our procurement approach and resulting framework agreement. As a minimum the framework agreement will seek to create an efficient and well defined call of process to award contracts for delivery of these projects.
If you are interested in helping to shape the design of the procurement process and resulting framework agreement, you are invited to participate in this preliminary market engagement stage.