Morrison Wins New Social Housing Business Nationwide

Published by Mike Holland for Morrison Facilities Services in Housing and also in Communities

Social housing repairs and maintenance contractor Morrison has been appointed to a framework contract in Manchester and has been named as preferred bidder on contracts in Bristol and Suffolk.

In the north of England, Morrison is to join the framework agreement operated by City West Housing Trust in Salford, Greater Manchester, for a £146 million refurbishment and regeneration programme. This will permit the housing association to place contracts with Morrison for work ranging from kitchen and bathroom replacements to structural repairs and wall cladding as well as external improvements and upgrades to communal areas.

In the south of England, Morrison has been named preferred bidder by Redland Housing Association for a £3 million, five year contract to undertake gas installations and gas servicing and provide on-call maintenance support for 1,400 homes in Bristol and the surrounding area.

On the opposite side of the country, Babergh District Council in South Suffolk has appointed Morrison as preferred bidder for a £5 million three year contract to provide repairs, voids and on-call maintenance services.

The news from Greater Manchester, Bristol and Suffolk comes just weeks after the company was named as preferred bidder for the provision of inspection, servicing and maintenance of gas fired domestic central heating systems for Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, The Riverside Group and AmicusHorizon.

Guy Wakeley, chief executive of Morrison, said: “Winning these contracts will enable us to provide help and support to even more communities as we continue to expand our business.

“The recession is accelerating the trend for councils, housing associations and ALMOs to improve efficiency by making better use of specialist organisations within the private sector.

“This is creating additional opportunities for us to help our existing clients and develop mutually beneficial relationships with new ones. We are currently working on more than 100 new bids and in the first half of 2009 we have already won or been appointed as preferred bidder on eleven new contracts, which has increased the order book by more than £200 million.”