Online applications for development cash went into extra time this week under pressure from frustrated housing associations
The Housing Corporation extended its original deadline for bids of last Friday by one working day to allow the remaining bids to be made by 5pm this Monday.

Officers at Darlington-based Railway housing association tried for three days before succeeding.

Director John Burrows said: "We would get into the system and then get locked out half way through our bid, then we would try to get back in again but not be able to."

In a letter to Housing Corporation chief executive Norman Perry, Burrows sought an apology for the inadequacy of the system.

"The sheer frustration of this fruitless experience is immense," he said. "Try putting some form of apology on the web site, it may just save a few screens having bricks put through them or staff having breakdowns."

The online system- designed to revolutionise the bidding process for development programme cash- came in for criticism as soon as it was unveiled, with the corporation admitting there might be "teething troubles" (Housing Today, 24 August).

Spare computers with internet access at the National Housing Federation’s London offices were set aside for housing associations desperate to get their bids in.

The Corporation confirmed the deadline had been extended to cope with last-minute bidding.

Corporation internet project manager Doreen Wright said: "We had some problems with the system which meant the system slowed. I am in constant conversation with the National Housing Federation about anyone that’s having problems.

"We are hoping for feedback on the website and we will be holding a post mortem to discuss how it went."

By midday on Monday the corporation had received 8,400 bids from 516 RSLs.

Source

Housing Today