L&Q has signed 15-year contracts with 10 partners worth up to £300m per year as the leading housing association moves forward with its sector leading Major Works Investment Programme.
The contracts will see the partners deliver a range of services including estate and environmental improvements, planned mechanical and engineering works and internal decorations for L&Q residents. These will include specialist fire safety works inside L&Q Living (LQL) supported homes. The contracts will be initially worth around £100m per year but are expected to increase to around £300m in some years of the programme based on the level of activity and L&Q’s asset management priorities.
Residents have been closely involved with the programme. L&Q’s Residents Services Board, a formal part of its governance arrangements, have been overseeing the planning and monitoring of the programme, including advising on the selection of contractors.
L&Q’s Major Works Investment Programme is the industry’s largest investment programme — almost £3bn over 15 years — to improve the safety, comfort and environmental performance of resident’s homes. This will see all L&Q homes maintained to the Decent Homes Standard — a technical standard set by the Government for public housing.
Through the programme, L&Q will also bring all its homes up to a minimum of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C status by 2028 — a move boosted by the recent announcement that the organisation had secured £27m of funding from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund for retrofitting homes.
The contracts have been awarded to companies of varying sizes and locations who will support L&Q with its drive to ensure that every resident has a decent home in which to live; Amber Construction; Axis Europe; Breyer Group, Durkan, Equans, Foster, Kier Places, Morgan Sindall Property Services; United Living and Wates. A signing ceremony was held last month to mark the occasion.
Beyond improving homes, the contracts include social value commitments to create a lasting impact in the communities where L&Q operates. These will include creating employment opportunities, including training and apprenticeships, alongside supporting community projects and charitable initiatives. Investments will be made into improving, or bringing back into use, community assets like community centres and playgrounds on estates.
Mark Newstead, Director of Major Works at L&Q said: “We’re delighted to confirm that ten fantastic like-minded partners are joining us for the next stage of our Major Works Investment Programme. Each shares our commitment to quality and excellence, whilst creating a positive impact on the communities where we work.”
James Gregg, Regional Managing Director at Wates commented: “There is a clear focus on quality delivery and social value through inspiring and developing communities at the heart of this contract. This gives us a great opportunity to deliver not only an exceptional service to L&Q and their residents but work in partnership with teams across the programme to provide valuable employment, skills and growth opportunities to local communities for years to come.”
In total, L&Q will install around 48,000 new kitchens and 42,000 new bathrooms through the programme, alongside a range of other improvements to residents homes.
