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Bernicia plans ‘at least’ 500 new homes with £190m investment
Bernicia has unveiled plans to pump £190m into building new homes and improving its existing stock across the North East of England.
The Northumberland-based group, which merged with fellow North East landlord Four Housing around two years ago, is planning to deliver “at least” 500 new homes by 2023, it said today.
The group, which has an annual turnover of £70m, said the 500 figure could be “significantly” exceeded if “opportunities arise”.
Bernicia, which employs 500 people across four sites, said it will also invest £60m into improving its existing stock of 14,000 homes and “boost support services” for its 60,000 customers across Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, County Durham and Hartlepool.
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An undisclosed amount will also be invested in digital technologies for its customers so they can “access support at times and in a way that suits their needs”, Bernicia said.
John Johnston, group chief executive, said: “Our investment strategy is an exciting opportunity for us to build on the high levels of customer satisfaction we have, delivering the high quality, affordable homes that our region badly needs now and in the future.”
Last September, an analysis of local authorities’ housing need estimated at least 500,000 new homes are needed across the North of England over the next decade.
Bernicia completed its merger with Durham-based Four Housing Group in June 2016 after the Northumberland-based landlord’s chair said there was a “clear geographical and cultural fit between the organisations”.
