20 Jul 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
Time is running out to decarbonise the UK’s housing
Stonewater welcomes IPPR latest research on decarbonising the nation’s homes.
15 Jul 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
24 Apr 2020
Living Space Housing to restart construction work at the former Victoria Carpets Sports Ground in Kidderminster
Construction work will restart at the Queen’s carpet maker – Victoria Carpets’ – former sports ground in Kidderminster. The £8million affordable housing scheme was close to reaching the topping out stage for the first tranche of new homes before all work was paused due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
02 Apr 2020
Flexible payment plan launched in response to the coronavirus pandemic
Leading national housing provider, Stonewater, has announced new flexible payment arrangements to support those customers who are experiencing financial hardship as a direct result of the current coronavirus outbreak.
01 Apr 2020
Enabling our customer contact teams to work remotely
Coronavirus-fuelled panic buying has resulted in empty shop shelves all across the country. While the demand for supermarkets has never been greater, it’s not just toilet paper and pasta that people have been scrambling to buy.
12 Mar 2020
Essential housing work must continue
While coronavirus rightly took centre-stage in the Budget statement this week, it was reassuring to see the chancellor also focused on a significant increase in infrastructure investment to £600bn over five years.
10 Mar 2020
10 March 2020: Stonewater appoints new Executive Director
Leading housing provider Stonewater has appointed a new Executive Director to oversee the management of its £1.8 billion assets. The announcement follows an intense recruitment process that shortlisted 30 candidates for the role.
10 Mar 2020
Building greener pastures - 24 Housing opinion piece by Jonathan Layzell
Last month, plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport were ruled illegal because ministers did not adequately take into account the government’s carbon-reduction targets. The ruling shows how we must consider the environmental impact of everything we do.
06 Mar 2020
Stonewater named top housing provider to work for
Housing association made top 25 of Best Companies list.
For the second consecutive year, social housing provider Stonewater has made the Best Companies list for the top 25 best housing sector organisations to work for in the UK.
03 Mar 2020
Stonewater celebrates new Nuneaton homes
Leading housing provider Stonewater has been working with construction and development firm Deeley Group and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council to develop much-needed affordable housing as part of the town’s wider regeneration project.
03 Mar 2020
Working towards greener pastures
Stonewater and Community Forest Trust clean up Dinton Pastures following floods.
As part of its commitment to protecting the environment and creating sustainable communities, colleagues from leading housing provider Stonewater got their hands dirty by making a contribution to the beautiful tree-lined landscape at Dinton Pastures, in partnership with the Community Forest Trust (CFT).
02 Mar 2020
Supporting older people to get online
Funding for Stonewater’s digital initiative will support seven retirement living schemes.
In 2019, 4 million adults were reported to have never used the internet, with more than half of those adults aged 75 years and over. To close the gap between the generations and increase internet usage among older adults, social housing provider Stonewater is supporting 270 of its existing residents as part of a digital inclusion programme.
25 Feb 2020
Work in Wootton gets underway
Work on a brand-new development from leading housing provider Stonewater and supported by South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) called St Georges Fields in Wootton, is now officially underway.
25 Feb 2020
Giving tenants a voice wins recognition
Leading housing provider Stonewater has been shortlisted for a national housing award, recognising its outstanding work with customers and giving tenants a voice.
21 Feb 2020
First bricks being laid at the former Victoria Carpets Sports Ground in Kidderminster
Construction work is progressing at the Queen’s carpet maker – Victoria Carpets’ – former sports ground in Kidderminster. The first superstructure bricks are being laid at the 5.4-acre development site, which is being transformed into an £8million residential scheme.
20 Feb 2020
Housing provider increases Best Companies ranking
Stonewater makes the Best Companies list for the second year running.
Leading housing provider Stonewater has been named one of this year’s 100 Best Companies to work for in the not-for-profit category. This is the second consecutive year Stonewater has featured in the annual list, ranking eleven places higher this time at number 67.
18 Feb 2020
Response to announcement - new support for survivors of domestic violence
Responding to the Housing Secretary’s announcement confirming new support for survivors of domestic violence, Guy Stenson, Director of Housing Operations – Customer Experience, at Stonewater, said:
11 Feb 2020
Refuge wins national recognition
A refuge has received national recognition for its specialist support to women and their families from the South Asian community, after being shortlisted for an award.
05 Feb 2020
Working locally to tackle housing shortage
Leading housing provider Stonewater has kickstarted 2020 by getting work at its site in Chard underway, with the support of local contractors and council.
04 Feb 2020
Housing provider shortlisted for national awards
Colleagues at leading housing provider Stonewater are celebrating once again after the organisation has been shortlisted for four national UK Housing Awards, in recognition of its ambitious development plans, specialist services and digital inclusion initiatives for customers. The nominations are for homebuilder of the year, best supported housing landlord, inclusivity and diversity pioneer, and campaign of the year: housing association.
28 Jan 2020
New funding seeks to tackle Black Country's rising hate crime
Longleigh Foundation Community Fund will help to step up the fight against discriminatory and hate-related behaviour and crime.
20 Jan 2020
Children’s art is raising awareness about a scheme for veterans
Five children from Leominster Primary School are celebrating, after being selected to have their art featured on the hoarding around a housing scheme for veterans, which is currently under construction in Herefordshire.
20 Jan 2020
Addressing the affordable housing shortage in South Somerset
Leading housing provider Stonewater has received support from Crewkerne Town Council, South Somerset District Council and Homes England for its latest development in Crewkerne.
20 Jan 2020
Pre-schoolers hunt for bugs
Leading housing provider Stonewater and the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust recently teamed up to host a bug hunt for the children at Rainbows Pre-school.
15 Jan 2020
Five years on: Stonewater is celebrating its fifth birthday
The business world may be littered with a trail of failed mergers and examples of deals not living up to their promises, but this month Stonewater is proving an exception as it celebrates five years on from the successful merger of the two legacy housing associations that created the new organisation.
20 Dec 2019
Providing high-quality homes for everyone
Construction of a brand-new affordable development in the village of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire, is officially underway.
20 Dec 2019
Work on 108 Leicestershire affordable homes is underway
More than 100 affordable homes are being brought to Leicestershire, with the support of local councils, by leading housing provider Stonewater.
20 Dec 2019
Latest development is helping to tackle housing shortage
Work is underway at a development called Brickyard Quarry, Leighton Buzzard in Central Bedfordshire.
20 Dec 2019
Reflecting on the last week in Parliament
It’s been another hectic week for British politics and here, Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive at Stonewater, reflects on the Queen’s Speech and what the proposed policies from the newly elected government, means for housing providers.
