North East landlords form new partnership to improve and increase affordable housing delivery

Combined, the 17 partners own and manage more than 214,000 homes in the region, comprising around one in six households in the mayoral combined authority area.

John Johnson, vice-chair of the NEHP, said: “I hope to see housing providers from across the North East shift from a group of individual organisations working in relative isolation to a strong and unified partnership.

“When we invest together, work together and plan together, we can achieve economies of scale, shape supply chains, regenerate communities, decarbonise our region, create and prepare people for jobs and support longer, healthier lives.”

Local authority members of NEHP include Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside and Northumberland councils.

Almshouse charity Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association joins a number of housing providers in the group. These include Bernicia, Believe Housing, Castles & Coasts Housing Association, Gentoo, Karbon Homes and Thirteen.

North Star, Home Group, Livin, Tyne Housing, Johnnie Johnson Housing and South Tyneside Homes complete the new partnership.

Paul Fiddaman, chair of the NEHP, said: “As a partnership, we hold on to a simple belief that a house is more than just a roof over your head. It’s something you can build a life around.

“The evidence is clear that good quality homes is intrinsically linked with a number of social outcomes, such as education, health and employment, and devolution presents a significant opportunity to address these disparities and build our region better.”

The partnership aims to work with the elected mayor of the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority to deliver its aims across the region.

Mr Fiddaman said: “With new powers and funding, managed and delivered close to local needs, we have the opportunity to take on some of the deep-seated problems that have long held us back.”