£1bn-turnover landlord becomes largest member of 100-strong group, whose members are generally mid-sized or smaller and are ‘locally-focused’

Housing association giant Peabody has joined PlaceShapers, a national network of more than 100 “locally-focused” housing associations.

Peabody is by some distance the largest association to join the group, whose members are generally mid-sized or smaller. Placeshapers says on its website its members range from small housing associations with fewer than 1,000 homes to “larger associations with more than 30,000 homes”. Peabody, also the first G15 landlord to join the group, owns or manages more than 108,000 homes.

After Peabody the next largest members of Placeshapers are Bromford Flagship (£607m turnover), Vivid (£408m) and Amplius (£297m). 

Ian McDermott headshot

A spokesperson for the 108,000-home landlord said membership offers the provider  “the chance to learn from peers, share best practice, and contribute to shaping national housing policy through a collective voice.”

PlaceShapers’ values include “acting local, putting residents first and shaping neighbourhoods through partnerships.”

Ian McDermott, chief executive of Peabody, said: “We’re large, but locally focused. We know each neighbourhood has its own characteristics, and in recent years we’ve put in place measures to get closer to residents and wider networks, including a regional structure, smaller patches and localised repairs services.”

As members, Peabody colleagues will now have access to learning networks, events and webinars across the UK, as well as practical resources and case studies on service improvements. Peabody operates across 140 neighbourhoods in London and the Home Counties.

Matthew Walker, chair of Placeshapers and chief executive of Leeds Federated Housing, said: “The diversity of our members is a huge strength of PlaceShapers. What unites every member is a commitment to place and a commitment to learn.”. 

How are Placeshapers’ applications assessed?

Membership is agreed by a PlaceShapers Board of nine chief executives.

Applicants must demonstrate their housing association:The application is assessed based on the housing organisation demonstrating that it:

  •  has a long-standing commitment to the places it operates and how it strives to improve the social and economic resilience of the communities it works with.
  •  puts residents and customers at the centre of what it does and ensures they have real influence on the organisation.
  •  is locally focused and works actively with local authorities and local partners to improve and shape places at a strategic and operational level.
  • builds homes that respond to local housing needs and provides more than just landlord services because it cares about the people and places where it works.

 

 

 

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