13 Jan 2021
Mayor visits affordable housing site
A leading housing providers affordable homes development on the site of a former Coventry school has been given a mayoral seal of approval.
08 Jan 2021
South West’s first major air source heat pump social housing retrofit to cut fuel bills for 55 Swindon homes
The South West’s first large-scale social housing retrofit using carbon-cutting air source heat pumps (ASHPs), has been installed by mechanical and electrical specialists Correct Contract Services (CCS) for Stonewater housing association in Swindon. The pioneering scheme also marks a first in the deployment of this green heating technology by a housing association to meet both the Government’s 2050 net zero-carbon emissions target and minimum EPC band C energy efficiency rating for all homes by 2035.
24 Dec 2020
Taking the bold steps to tackle climate change
The Energy White Paper calls for ‘decisive action’ to tackle climate change and to ensure households can afford to meet their energy needs into the future. This focus on tackling fuel poverty is something we welcome at Stonewater as we house over 70,000 customers in homes across the country. We know the pressures many people face – especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
22 Dec 2020
Working together to transform lives
Matt Crucefix, Director of Development (South and West) at social housing provider Stonewater, explores the importance of strong partnerships and a commitment to social value in order to support people who are most in need.
17 Dec 2020
Homeless veterans complete self-build in Leominster in time for Christmas
Against all odds, six previously homeless veterans have completed a self-build scheme of 19 affordable homes in Leominster, Herefordshire and will be enjoying Christmas in their new homes.
17 Dec 2020
Stonewater scoops award for lockdown domestic abuse service
A housing provider’s portfolio of innovative schemes to help people fleeing domestic abuse during the coronavirus crisis has scooped a national award for its potentially life-saving work.
15 Dec 2020
Energy White Paper: Great green progress on heat pumps, but grey areas remain
Commenting on the announcements by the government in the Energy White Paper, Patrick Chauvin, Executive Director - Assets at Stonewater, said:
01 Dec 2020
Innovative home ownership scheme wins prestigious award
Stonewater’s dramatic launch of a trailblazing employee benefit scheme, which has transformed the lives of colleagues struggling to get on the property ladder, has won a prestigious award.
25 Nov 2020
Stonewater launches ‘Safe Place’ domestic abuse awareness campaign to mark 16 Days of Action and White Ribbon Day
Specialist supported housing provider Stonewater has created its ‘Safe Place’ awareness campaign to show how it responds and helps people affected by domestic abuse.
25 Nov 2020
Spending Review: Stonewater urges focus on levelling-up through affordable house building
Commenting on the announcements by the Chancellor in today’s Spending Review, Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive of Stonewater, said:
23 Nov 2020
This is a watershed moment to build the homes we need for the next 100 years – let’s seize it
Jonathan Layzell weighs up the pros and cons of the government’s planning reforms
19 Nov 2020
Housing provider sees success in green investment push
Stonewater welcomes the government’s plans for a green industrial revolution, which builds on the significant campaigning by the housing association to secure long-term Government support.
17 Nov 2020
Response to the Government's Social Housing White Paper
In response to the Government’s Social Housing White Paper, Sue Shirt Executive Director of Customer Experience at Stonewater, said:
11 Nov 2020
Housing Minister makes virtual visit to innovative veterans housing scheme
This week, the Minister for Housing, the Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP, made a virtual visit to Stonewater’s innovative community build development at Waterworks Lane in Leominster, Hereford.
04 Nov 2020
Support service for domestic abuse survivors launched in Southampton
A new support service for women and children fleeing domestic abuse has been launched in Southampton.
02 Nov 2020
15-year repairs programme gets underway
Leading affordable housing provider Stonewater has appointed social housing maintenance specialist Wates Living Space to deliver a 15-year programme of housing repairs to nearly 10,000 homes and worth around £105m.
30 Oct 2020
New employee benefit campaign wins national praise
A first of its kind employee benefit scheme, which has transformed the lives of colleagues at a leading housing provider, has won national recognition.
20 Oct 2020
New employee benefit scheme helps colleagues onto the property ladder
A new type of employee benefit scheme which has transformed the lives of colleagues at a leading housing provider is celebrating its first anniversary.
05 Oct 2020
5 October 2020: 39 new affordable homes to be built in Wyken
A Coventry family-firm is continuing a near 70-year commitment to improving a community in Wyken.
05 Oct 2020
5 October 2020: Stonewater’s latest hire to support transformation project
Leading housing provider Stonewater has announced the senior appointment of Debbie Chun as Assistant Director of IT.
29 Sep 2020
29 September 2020: Housing associations adopt real-time, emotion-led approach to customer feedback and engagement
Upland Software’s multi-channel approach to gathering feedback improves response rates and customer satisfaction scores for housing associations
Housing associations across the globe have long faced challenges when engaging with customers for feedback due to outdated practices and technologies. Increasingly, housing associations have begun to adopt new technologies to gather real-time, honest feedback enabling them to take critical action at scale, and this trend has only been magnified by the ongoing pandemic.
16 Sep 2020
16 September 2020: Kingspan chosen for affordable housing scheme
Leading housing provider Stonewater is taking full advantage of the excellent thermal efficiency of Kingspan Kooltherm K108 Cavity Board at its new affordable housing development The Bushels, in Mosterton, Dorset, creating homes that are cosy and cost-effective to heat.
14 Sep 2020
14 September 2020: Homebuilding project at Saxon Close wins recognition
A previously underused area of a residential estate in Wiltshire, which was prone to fly-tipping, has been shortlisted for an award following the completion of a regeneration project.
11 Sep 2020
11 September 2020: Housing provider’s heroes make national finalists
Leading housing provider Stonewater was named a finalist in five categories in the 2020 Housing Heroes Awards.
27 Aug 2020
27 August 2020: Green light for renewable energy smart city in Oxford
An innovative Smart City pilot scheme in Oxford has been given the green light to proceed following lockdown delays. The recommencement of the smart renewable heating project with leading housing provider Stonewater, Kensa Contracting and Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO), marks a significant milestone for the construction and renewables industry, and a positive step towards a greener future for all.
18 Aug 2020
18 August 2020: Stonewater appoints two new directors
Leading housing provider Stonewater has appointed Anne Costain to Corporate Finance Director and John Chadwick to Customer Experience Programme Delivery Director.
06 Aug 2020
6 August 2020: Response to the Government white paper document
In response to the Government white paper document – Planning For the Future Stonewater’s Executive Director – Development, Jonathan Layzell, said:
05 Aug 2020
5 August 2020: Stonewater receives DAHA accreditation
Leading housing provider Stonewater has been recognised by Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) for its commitment to tackling domestic abuse and promoting equality with a formal accreditation.
24 Jul 2020
24 July 2020: Development of the Week - Sam's Acre, South Petherton
Our development in South Petherton, Sam's Acre has been featured by Inside Housing as 'Development of the Week.'
20 Jul 2020
20 July 2020: Response to Universal Credit payment changes
Responding to the recent confirmation that payment changes will be coming next month, which will see Housing costs payment rules change , David Lockerman, Customer Experience Director at Stonewater, said:
15 Jul 2020
15 July 2020: Time is running out to decarbonise the UK’s housing
Stonewater welcomes IPPR latest research on decarbonising the nation’s homes.
15 Jul 2020
15 July 2020: Retrofitting the Social Rented Sector: Why a pilot just won’t fly
Last week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s message from the dispatch box was clear: the UK’s economic recovery will be delivered through a ‘green recovery’ - ensuring that the UK plays its part in tackling climate change whilst delivering economic growth.
13 Jul 2020
13 July 2020: Vistry Partnerships to build 80 affordable homes in Bridgwater, Somerset
Regeneration specialist Vistry Partnerships has exchanged contracts with Homes England to build 80 affordable homes on a site at Kingsdown, Bridgwater.
08 Jul 2020
8 July 2020: Stonewater's response to the chancellor's announcement
Stonewater hails green retrofit focus and calls for continued ‘rapid pace’ to tackle fuel poverty.
08 Jul 2020
8 July 2020: Seizing the chance for zonal planning reform is the final piece in the chancellor’s jigsaw
The chancellor today reiterated a pledge to reform the planning system in England with a Planning Policy Paper later this month, followed by new planning legislation in ‘summer 2020’. While we await further detail, here are some thoughts on the problems of the current planning system and how they could be solved to build more affordable homes, create more jobs and house more people in housing need.
01 Jul 2020
1 July 2020: Everyone should have an opportunity to have a place that they can call home
We welcome the Government’s announcement over the weekend to give improved access to social housing for members of the Armed Forces and veterans suffering from mental ill health but we need to be mindful that providing somewhere to live is only one very important element of a package of support that is often required.
30 Jun 2020
30 June 2020: Stonewater calls for zonal planning reform to allow for construction of ‘hundreds of thousands’ more homes
Responding to the announcement by the prime minister today on planning reform to boost house building, Stonewater’s Chief Executive, Nicholas Harris, said:
23 Jun 2020
23 June 2020: Stonewater to increase domestic abuse services
In response to the increasing demand for domestic abuse support services due to lockdown restrictions amid the Covid-19 outbreak, a specialist supported housing provider has been successful in its bid for additional funding.
15 Jun 2020
15 June 2020: Stonewater and Kensa team up to offer residents cost savings
A project aiming to demonstrate how ground source heat pumps with smart heating controls can reduce heating costs for residents in Oxford, whilst also protecting the environment, is officially underway.
15 Jun 2020
15 June 2020: What we learnt from ‘The Salisbury Poisonings’ by Sue Shirt, Executive Director of Customer Experience
Two years on from the Novichok incident in Salisbury, and the tragic death of Dawn Sturgess in Amesbury. Yesterday (Sunday 14 June) saw the first episode of a BBC drama called the 'The Salisbury Poisonings'.
11 Jun 2020
11 June 2020: Planning granted to build affordable homes on former school site
The site of a former school in Wyken, Coventry is set to be re-developed as affordable housing after planning permission was granted for 39 homes.
03 Jun 2020
3 June 2020: Stonewater strikes £23m modular deal with Ilke Homes
Stonewater has agreed a £23m deal with Ilke Homes that will see the modular specialist deliver 120 properties for the landlord.
14 May 2020
14 May 2020: Supporting buyers to get on the property market
A housing provider welcomes the government’s plans to restart the housing market, as it continues to support aspiring homeowners in Bedfordshire, West Sussex, Leicestershire, West and North Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Cambridgeshire and Gloucestershire.
12 May 2020
13 May 2020: Housing provider adapts to support those affected by domestic abuse
A supported housing specialist, whose refuges are at full capacity, has adapted its referrals model to open up more bed spaces, so it is able to support more people and their families fleeing domestic abuse, following a surge in case reports following the pandemic.
07 May 2020
7 May 2020: Local veterans celebrate VE Day with work getting back underway
Ahead of VE Day 75, construction on a scheme providing armed forces veterans a chance to gain valuable construction skills and experience whilst building their own brand-new homes, has restarted.
04 May 2020
4 May 2020: Housing associations complete on 731-home stock transfer
Today (May 4), social housing provider Stonewater has completed on a tenanted stock transfer of 731 homes in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire from Southern Housing Group.
