Housing Services - HD - Preferred Partners

Housing Development – The signing of the Preferred Partners Agreement
Housing Association Preferred Partnership

The preferred partners
Partnership housing associations are chosen to deliver the affordable housing on larger development sites. The first preferred partnership agreement was set up in 2003.

The partnership has been so successful that in 2006, when the original agreement was due to end, it was decided that the partnership would be renewed, with an additional member. On 23rd April 2007 the Chief Executive of EHDC and housing associations signed up to the new preferred partnership agreement. The current partners are:

• Drum
• Kingfisher (part of the Wessex Housing Partnership)
• Swaythling
• A2 Winchester (previously Winchester)
• Petersfield Housing Association

The aims of the partnership
The main aim of the partnership is to maximise the provision of affordable housing within the district. The partners meet regularly to review the housing development programme and discuss any related issues.
The partnership also aims to increase development standards and customer service. EHDC monitors preferred partners against performance indicators.

As well as delivering affordable homes, the partnership has also helped with related projects such as helping to fund a debt advice project and a community development project.

Please see attached the Preferred Partnership Agreement for 2007 – 2011.

Performance Monitoring
Through the Preferred Partnership Agreement, EHDC request certain performance monitoring information from the preferred partners annually. Please see attached below the Performance Monitoring Report for 2004-2007.