City West Housing Trust and Liverpool Mutual Homes have jointly created the 4Site Partnership to increase their combined buying power, resulting in reduced costs and improved services. Based around an OJEU-compliant tendering process and with the involvement of their tenants, City West and LMH have developed framework agreements for construction-related consultancy and project management services as well as for architectural services.
City West has already saved a £2.5 million through the 4Site partnership, a saving of nine per cent compared with the proposed costs of its Decent Homes improvement programme. City West and LMH, which manage a total of over 30,000 properties and are delivering a combined £635 million worth of housing improvements, have now opened up the 4Site Partnership to housing providers nationwide.
Colette McKune, director of asset management, City West Housing Trust, said, “These comprehensive framework agreements, with a range of North West-based and national consultants and architects, will deliver extensive programmes of housing improvements safely, on time, within budget and to an agreed level of quality.
Steve Coffey, chief executive, Liverpool Mutual Homes, added, “We are not necessarily looking to find the cheapest, but those who can provide the best value for money. Our combined purchasing power has proven to result in staggering cost efficiencies.”
