Partner Article

Home Group confirms first national contract for Sanderson Weatherall-led Regional Agent Partnership

Home Group, one of the UK’s largest affordable housing providers, is the first third sector body to commission a cross-company team from the Sanderson Weatherall-led Regional Agent Partnership (RAP), a UK-wide network of chartered surveyors and property consultants.

Home Group, a social enterprise and a charity with a turnover of over £328m, required an options analysis and valuations for a wide ranging property portfolio across the UK that included former depots, residential accommodation and housing offices. As a result of the first phase of work Home Group will redevelop some of the assets and dispose of a number of surplus assets. The RAP will be bringing a number of these opportunities to the market for sale in the next few weeks.

In 2013, Sanderson Weatherall was appointed as a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework supplier, to provide professional property services to public sector clients through the Estates Professional Services (RM928) Framework.

The firm is leading the Regional Agent partnership, comprised of five award-winning practices of chartered surveyors – Sanderson Weatherall, Alder King, Ryden, Harris Lamb and Budworth Hardcastle – all of whom have vast experience in the public sector.

Following discussions with Sanderson Weatherall, Home Group - which provides housing for 120,000 people in more than 50,000 properties around the UK - commissioned the firm to manage the overall project, while also specifically supporting Home Group through its offices in the North East, North West, and South West. Given the geographical spread of the portfolio Alder King, Budworth Hardcastle, Ryden and Harris lamb have all worked on elements of this project and will be marketing a variety of disposal opportunities.

Simon Elliot, Head of Public Sector Consultancy at Sanderson Weatherall, said: “Home Group is very well known to Sanderson Weatherall as it has its roots firmly bedded in the North East of England, so we are particularly delighted that it is the first client to commission a cross-company team from the Regional Agent Partnership for a national contract. One of the major benefits to clients in the public sector through our appointment to the Crown Commercial Service is that they don’t have to go through complicated and time-consuming pre-qualification procedures. That, in itself, allows us to focus more intently on the details of the tender and, in doing so, provide a truly competitive pricing structure.”

With Sanderson Weatherall as members of the Framework, the RAP members can effectively provide a full range of professional services for use by all UK public sector bodies including - but not limited to - central government departments and their agencies, non-departmental government bodies, NHS bodies and local authorities.

The Partnership has a combined turnover of approximately £40 million and more than 600 staff with exceptional property knowledge, operating out of 31 offices across the UK.

Home Group’s director of asset management Karen Heaney said: “As a not for profit affordable housing provider it’s important to us that we make the best use of our assets to provide homes and care and support to those who need them.

“By disposing of these void properties we’ll be able to reinvest funds into existing assets and new development which really help us to make a difference to the lives of those we help. We’re confident the Regional Agent Partnership will work efficiently and provide best value for money.”

Picture caption: Karen Heaney, Home Group and Simon Elliot, Sanderson Weatherall.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Regional Agent Partnership .