Who are Clarion Housing Group and what are they proposing?
Who are Clarion Housing Group and what are they proposing?
Clarion Housing Group was formed following the merger of Affinity Sutton Group and Circle Housing Group in November 2016. You may recall that you were consulted about the merger in April last year as Old Ford was part of Circle Housing Group. Following the merger, Clarion has the resources required to deliver improvements to the repairs services and to invest more into improving residents’ homes, neighbourhoods and communities.
Clarion is now proposing to form a single organisation called Clarion Housing Association. This will be a Charitable Housing Provider regulated by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The aim is to bring all the housing associations within the group, including Old Ford, into one to simplify things and make it easier to deliver good services to our residents – no matter where you live.
Why should Old Ford become part of Clarion Housing Association?
The Board believes there are six key benefits for Old Ford residents in becoming part of Clarion Housing Association. These are:
- Investment in improving and maintaining homes
- Opportunities for resident involvement including creating a Community Panel
- An expanded training and employment programme
- Attractive and inclusive communities
- Services to help with money management and digital skills
- New homes and regeneration programmes
What’s changed since Circle Housing Group became part of Clarion Housing Group?
In December 2016 the regulator identified service failures affecting Circle Housing residents in parts of London including Old Ford. Clarion has taken urgent steps to address these failures.
The Board knows there were many problems and legacy issues and Clarion is determined to transform the way services are delivered. There’s much more work to do. However you may have already noticed some service improvements already, including:
Call handling
Residents are finding it easier to call and get their problems resolved.
Gas servicing
New gas contractors have been appointed in Tower Hamlets and Havering as well as 20 other London boroughs.
Face to face contact
Clarion staff have been meeting residents with door knocking sessions across Tower Hamlets and public events for residents in Havering.
In addition Clarion has been working hard to tackle the issues at Orchard Village and to deliver on the promises made by Circle Housing to residents across the Parkside Estates.
There is much more to do but the Board believe that Clarion is committed to delivering a good service and on balance it is now the right time for Old Ford to become part of the new Clarion Housing Association.
Clarion and Orchard Village
Good progress has been made on putting the issues at the Orchard Village right since Clarion took ownership of it.
An independent surveyor was immediately appointed to undertake comprehensive surveys so that the extent of the issues could be fully understood and, most importantly, what would need to be done to put them right. Clarion is working closely with the build contractor Willmott Dixon, which has a number of operatives and equipment on site in order to complete the remedial works and give people the quality homes they were promised.
Clarion and Parkside
The Parkside Major Works project is in the last stages of Phase I. External and internal communal decorations, roof repairs, window overhauls, walkway repairs, mechanical works and electrical upgrades have now been carried out at St Stephens Road, Butley Court, Jossiline Court, Ranwell Close, Wilmer House, Ingram House and Lakeview. The final electrical upgrades at Sandall House have started and internal communal redecorations will follow.
Work on Phase II has commenced. This is mainly environmental works across the Parkside estates – including soft landscaping, renewal/repair of fences, roads and paving, installation of new bin stores, demolition of St Stephens Road garages, re-establishing the Ollerton Green underground car park and repairs at Sturdy House underground car park.
Will there be opportunities for residents to get involved?
Yes there will be lots of opportunities for residents to get involved. Clarion will create an Old Ford Community Panel, which will include tenants and be responsible for overseeing Clarion’s local performance in Tower Hamlets, undertaking scrutiny activities and helping shape local services. The Panel will also help decide where Clarion’s community and neighbourhood investment funds can best benefit local initiatives. If you’re interested in becoming a member of the Community Panel, please speak to a member of your local housing staff.
Residents will also have opportunities to get involved with a new North London Scrutiny Committee and more details on this will follow.
