Wayfarer welcomes First Wessex
The Wayfarer Partnership, founded in 2003 and comprising some of the most significant housing organisations in the South East, has welcomed First Wessex.
A progressive consortium operating in Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and Wiltshire; Wayfarer members now own and manage more than 43,000 homes, and have attracted Homes and Communities Agency funding in excess of £239m since 2004, providing 6,000 homes. As such, Wayfarer has unrivalled experience in small and large scale regeneration projects, mixed housing and community schemes and providing affordable homes for rent and low cost home ownership.
Wayfarer's mission is to "work together with national and local government to deliver our common goal to increase the supply of much needed affordable housing in southern England. By working together members are able to achieve more than by operating alone."
Portsmouth Housing Association, a founder member of Wayfarer joined First Wessex in 2007 to become one of the largest providers of social housing in Hampshire. First Wessex will become partners in the consortium alongside similarly sized group, Radian. The other consortium members are Ability Housing Association, Greenoak Housing Association, Havant Housing Association, Petersfield Housing Association, Raven Housing Trust and Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing.
Hazel Warwick, Development Director at First Wessex, said "Following the amalgamation of Portsmouth, Atlantic and Pavilion Housing Associations, First Wessex is very pleased to be able to deliver its entire new programme as part of the Wayfarer partnership. We will be able to continue and increase our joint working which will enable us to benefit and share expertise will all the partners. First Wessex is known for its significant community regeneration experience and this is one of the benefits we will bring to the partnership."
Through Wayfarer, First Wessex has been able to attract funding for two major regeneration projects in Gosport and Aldershot, where existing properties are being replaced with a higher quantity of modern homes that meet the needs of the residents.
Date published: 27 May 2010