New Chair appointed to run £30 million Asset Company
A new independent Chair has been appointed to lead a social enterprise which will run assets worth more than £30 million in an area of Chester.
Hugh Evans has been appointed Chair of the Blacon Asset Management Company, which will oversee the £18.8 million regeneration of The Parade, where more than 35 affordable homes will be built alongside retail, community and health facilities. The new Chair will be assisted by a Vice-Chair, who will be a community representative. This initiative has been developed by Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT), Cheshire West & Chester Council (CWaC), Cheshire West Primary Care Trust and the Blacon Alliance. There will be extensive consultation with stakeholders this summer with a view to commencing building work on The Parade in spring 2012.
Hugh, of Bebington, Wirral, was Deputy Chief Executive of Riverside Housing Association in Liverpool from 1984 until his retirement in 2004. Hugh, who holds an MBA from the Open University, oversaw Riverside’s growth from 2,000 homes when he started in 1976 to more than 40,000 homes.
The interview panel was made up of Chief Executive of CDHT John Denny, Chief Executive of CWaC Steve Robinson, Chief Executive of Urban Hope Dr Martin Carey and Blacon Alliance representative Denise Hitchins.
John Denny said:
“Hugh’s appointment is a significant step forward for the development of the groundbreaking Blacon Asset Management Company. Hugh comes with considerable experience and obvious commitment to the area of community regeneration. Hugh has served on the Boards of four of the largest and most successful housing organisations in the North West. In addition, he has done much work relating to the development of social enterprises and his application and interview evidenced an excellent understanding of the challenges involved in developing an Asset Management Company which will generate surplus funds for investment in Blacon.”
Hugh Evans added:
“This is an exciting opportunity to work with partners to make a real difference. I have a strongly held belief that if local people are empowered to act for the benefit of their community then areas like Blacon can thrive. The creation of an asset management company will both empower people and help to identify further opportunities for social enterprise and economic development.”
Steve Robinson said:
“The appointment of Hugh Evans is excellent news for the people of Blacon. I am confident that he will provide a strong and dynamic leadership to develop the Asset Management Company for the benefit of the local community. Working alongside residents and community groups, Hugh will play a crucial role in overseeing the redevelopment of The Parade, a project to which the Council has committed more than £6m. However, his role does not end with The Parade – the remit for the regeneration and revitalisation of Blacon is far wider and we look forward to working with Hugh as he takes this forward.”
The key function of the new Asset Management Company is to ensure commercial success which will generate surplus revenue to deliver localised services through the management of services, the public realm, housing and retail stock in Blacon. It is intended that the Asset Management Company will have responsibility for the management of an asset base that ultimately could exceed £30 million, including the new Blacon Parade development.
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CAPTION (L-R):
CDHT Chief Executive John Denny, Urban Hope Chief Executive Dr Martin Carey, Chair of the Blacon Asset Management Company Hugh Evans, Blacon Alliance Board member Gus Cairns and Cheshire West & Chester Council Chief Executive Steve Robinson
Notes to editors
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) is a dynamic and enterprising organisation at the forefront of delivering positive impacts in the communities with which it works. The Trust’s homes span six communities – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
Committed to the best principles of social enterprise with over 14,000 local customers in 6,200 properties and 53% of its 275 colleagues living within its communities, the Trust adheres to key commitments and principles relating to people, places, partnerships and performance which underpin the Vision to ‘create opportunity’, through its mission, ‘by doing the right thing’.
The Trust is about being transparent and accountable in everything that is done and to this end is one of the first organisations nationally to have established a Residents’ Board, with full delegated powers from the Trust Board, to direct services which impact upon their lives.
The Trust has a comprehensive development programme delivering over 330 new homes including the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester providing new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats.
CDHT also provides services on a partnership basis, to a number of other customers e.g. Telecare services, TrustWorks Maintenance Services, Housing Options advice, waiting list management and choice based lettings to neighbouring local authorities and registered social landlords.
The Trust is rated as two Star excellent by the Audit Commission, has the highest possible rating from Telecare Services Association and is also credited Investors in People and is the overall Employer of the Year For Cheshire West. It has been in the ‘Top 100 Sunday Times best companies to work for’ for the last four years, reaching its highest position of 27h this year.
For more details please visit www.cdht.org or request a copy of CDHT’s Corporate Plan 2009-2014.
CDHT Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood
E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370
Jane Harrad-Roberts
E: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07785 395705
W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk T: 01244 330000
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