Urban Splash and Places for People plan JVs
Preston-based Places for People, one of the country's biggest housing organisations with £3bn of assets, said it intends to explore joint venture development opportunities with Urban Splash, from which it acquired assets in July.
The social landlord acquired 654 apartments from Urban Splash in a £77m deal in July, helping troubled Splash clear debt.
The first development would be at Park Hill where Places for People is expected to work with Splash to fit out unfinished apartments in the large renovation scheme, among shortlist for the Stirling Prize which will be handed out tonight.
David Cowans, chief executive of Places for People, said in a statement: "Working with Urban Splash makes absolute sense for us and is a further commitment to providing an even greater choice and access to high quality, affordable and sustainable housing. We are very pleased to be able to work with Urban Splash, initially on the innovative development of Park Hill in Sheffield, and we will be looking at further opportunities to develop schemes within the Urban Splash and Places for People portfolio in the future."
Places for People produced an operating profit of £17m last year on turnover of £380m.
Tom Bloxham, chairman of Urban Splash, said: "This announcement is great news for Urban Splash. Places for People and Urban Splash have many shared values, and great reputations for regeneration, placemaking and great architecture. Urban Splash has an enviable track-record having developed over 60 schemes and won 348 awards over the last 20 years.
"Looking forward, we are keen to undertake more projects in partnership and are very pleased to be able to work with a company of the quality, stature and size as Places for People. We are looking forward to creating more award-winning homes with them."
Obsessed with awards by any chance……maybe more concentration on the books would have helped!!
By Auditor
you forgot to add "both largely funded by the tax payer"…..
By NWDA
Did they meet at ‘ Goatee Beard Club’?
By Billy
Now I know why Tom wears a hat
By Mrs Bloxham
The first rule of Goatee Beard Club is that you do not talk about Goatee Beard Club!
By Clipper
Splash have effectively become a highly paid development consultant. I can guarantee to deliver schemes as successfully as Splash but for half of Splashes equity stake plus a smaller fee.
By MrDelivery
I’m glad Tom isn’t wearing the hat! It makes him look like Walter White!
By AB
The jealousy of Bloxham’s achievements are astounding. Has he broken any laws? No. Was the money properly bid for and allocated, yes? If it’s so simple why didnt the critics do it and buy their own villas in France? The grant system was there for all to use.
By Biggie Smalls
Ahh. I See. So Mr Bloxham has a villa in France. Very nice. I am sure he will soon be able to afford a villa in Italy as well off the back of the affordable housing gravy train (its the game that stinks not the players). Has Biggie Smalls also managed to acquire a villa in France hanging onto Mr Bloxham’s shirt tails? And by the way Mr Bloxham should be applauded for being one of Manchester’s great success stories over the last 20 years.
By Smallie Biggs