Housing QSs fights back

Writing in QS News this week (letters, page 11) two firms claimed misinformation was being spread about how costlier social housing was and that this could threaten supply chains amongst smaller contractors and consultants.

QS News revealed figures that showed that an average 72.5m2 social home is around £40,000 more expensive to build than a private one.

Robin Hayward, who runs Cumbrian-based firm Hayward Associates, said he was becoming “increasing frustrated at the misinformation regarding the cost per unit of social housing”.

He argued that social housing providers have to adhere to more regulations and standards as well as making sure the houses run on low maintenance costs.

And Hayward said that a possible reduction in funds provided for houses by government housing quango the Housing Corporation could threaten the provision of rural housing. The Housing Corporation is now giving money to larger housing associations or groups of housing associations rather than smaller ones.

Much needed local homes on small and difficult sites

Robin Hayward, Hayward Associates

He said: “Often small associations provide, as here in Cumbria, much needed local homes on small and difficult sites which the volume house builders would shy away from. The new (Housing Corporation) system will destroy many important supply chains for small to medium contractors and professionals without producing the desired results, since they are based on statistical spin for political reasons.”

And Paul Scammell of TAB Projects backed up Hayward’s argument. He also claimed that social housing contractors include their overhead and profits within contracts whereas developers exclude them.

Scammell added: “Our company tends to construct social housing units on sites that have been rejected by private developers. Many seem to be inner city brownfield sites with problems to be resolved, for example, contamination.