We welcomed mayoral candidate Kim McGuinness to Jubilee Fields Estate, Shildon.
The visit is one of a programme of visits arranged by the North East Housing Partnership (NEHP) offered to all six of the North East mayoral candidates to showcase the work of the partnership and demonstrate how a new mayor could support the delivery of more and better quality homes in the region.
The NEHP is a partnership comprising 17 social housing providers and Local Authorities from across the region working together to support the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority to deliver a comprehensive housing plan that drives economic growth and helps residents live longer healthier lives.
In 2022, we committed to the local community to regenerate The Courts area in Shildon and invest in home and estate redesign, address anti-social behaviour, and work with tenants, residents and local partnerships to invest in community projects and activities to improve community cohesion.
Kim joined our chief executive, Alan Boddy, John Johnston (chief executive at Bernicia and vice chair of NEHP), Tracy Harrison (Northern Housing Consortium chief executive), and Joy Allen (Durham police and crime commissioner) to hear about the regeneration of this area and how housing is a catalyst to opening up opportunities, getting people into good jobs, raising social capital, improving community spirit and changing lives.
Alan Boddy, chief executive said: “As a housing provider in the North East we see first-hand the challenges our communities face, and how a quality home in a thriving community can change lives. With over 66,000 people on the waiting lists for social housing across the region, we must improve housing quality and energy efficiency and bring empty homes back into use. We are proud of our housing-led regeneration at Jubilee Fields Estate and welcome the opportunity to share how we are working to overcome the significant barriers to improve housing in the region.”
Kim McGuinness mayoral candidate said : "As mayor I'll work with housing providers to build more and better homes across Durham and the North East. I'll ensure we build affordable homes and social-housing so everyone has access to a great home. It's great to see the work already taking place by members of the North East Housing Partnership and to discuss how we can build on this."
John Johnston, vice-chair of the NEHP, said: “As key housing providers in the region, we recognise the power of collaboration and that’s why we decided to come together to form the partnership. Over the past year, we’ve been developing our programme of work to deliver more, good quality affordable homes and support for residents in the North East and by working with the North East Mayoral Combined Authority and the new Mayor we can achieve even more. Whoever is elected, we look forward to working with them to tackle the region’s challenges head on.”
Pictured: Joy Allen, (Durham police and crime commissioner) Alan Boddy (Livin chief executive), John Johnston (Bernicia chief executive and vice chair of NEHP), Kim McGuinness (mayoral candidate) and Tracy Harrison (NHC chief executive)
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