Powerminister Gleeson Services - Major new contract
Powerminster Gleeson Services, part of the MJ Gleeson
Group, is celebrating its part in securing a major new
contract to provide responsive and planned maintenance
as part of a Government Private Finance Initiative which
will see the development of five new build ‘extra care’
sheltered housing schemes for Cheshire County Council.
The AvantAge Consortium, which comprised Harvest Housing
Group, MJ Gleeson Group and Nationwide Building Society,
was awarded the £65m contract, which included a £29m
contract for planned and responsive maintenance for
Powerminster Gleeson Services. The overall cost of the
five schemes within the project is estimated to be £65m
and AvantAge, together with their key subcontractors,
will operate the facilities over the 30 year project
term. Powerminster Gleeson Services’ responsibilities
will include grounds maintenance (hard and soft
landscaping), management of void properties, planned and
responsive maintenance and life cycle replacements.
David Bradbury, PFI Director at Powerminster Gleeson
Services explains: “We are delighted to be working with
Cheshire County Council and the partner organisations to
deliver homes that meet the requirements of local people
now and in the future. This is great news for our
company as it not only guarantees an increased level of
business for the next 30 years, but also strengthens our
position as an FM provider. We are really excited about
the chance to make a huge difference to the lives of
many hundreds of people throughout this area.”
The project involves the construction of 435 new homes
which will be specifically designed for older people and
will be located in Crewe, Winsford, Ellesmere Port,
Middlewich and Handforth.
The contract will create new employment opportunities in
this area with Powerminster Gleeson Services, once the
contract is underway.
The project - one of the first of its kind in the
country - will help Cheshire County Council to meet the
challenges of the ageing population - by 2031, an
estimated 26% of the county's population will be over
the age of 65.
Older people living in the area will therefore have
access to a variety of tenure options, ranging from
assured tenancies for rent, through shared-ownership to
leasehold for sale. The project includes both single
bedroom apartments and two-bedroomed options.
The AvantAge consortium involves the same partners who
are already working together on the successful delivery
of Manchester’s ‘Grove Village’ urban regeneration
scheme, which has transformed a run-down area of inner
city housing into an attractive, secure and desirable
place to live. This project, based in the Ardwick area,
involves the building of 600 new homes and refurbishment
of 663 homes, as part of a 30 year agreement.
Under the PFI agreement with Cheshire County Council,
Gleeson Building Limited will carry out construction
work; Manchester and District Housing Association, part
of the Harvest Housing Group, will be responsible for
housing management and facilities management services;
with Powerminster Gleeson Services carrying out
responsive and planned preventative maintenance,
including long-term life-cycle replacement works.
Cheshire County Council will take responsibility for the
provision of care supervision.
Each ‘extra care’ village will offer secure and
affordable accommodation with facilities including
central atria with TV lounges, fitness and
rehabilitation suites, restaurants, hairdressing salons,
assisted bathing, massage and aromatherapy, as well as a
local shop, café, library, IT suite and restaurant with
external terraces and enclosed winter gardens.
Additional features include management offices, staff
training rooms, spa baths on each of the upper floors of
residence, as well as a village hall, garden and visitor
parking. All this will be designed in such a way to be
accessible to all, including those requiring high levels
of care, with lift and galleried access provided to
upper floors.
"Extra care housing delivers an exciting new vision of
lifestyle for older people in the 21st century. We are
providing world class care for our elderly," said County
Councillor Lynn Hardwick, Executive Member for Adult
Services.
"Our extra care villages will meet the increased
requirements of older people in which they can feel more
secure and have ready access to the support they need
and activities which promote fitness and good health.
The aim is to provide longer independence with an
alternative to residential care at a time when places
are frequently hard to come by."
Work will start later this year and the new facilities
are expected to be ready for occupiers between mid-2008
and early 2009.
This is the second major PFI contract awarded this year
to Powerminster Gleeson Services. In April 2007, the
company became one of the major subcontractors on the
Ashford Social Housing PFI in Kent, where it will
provide facilities management services for the life of
this 30 year contract, as well as carrying out all the
internal refurbishment works.
Powerminster Gleeson Services is accredited to ISO9001
and ISO14001. For the past three years, the business has
received RoSPA Gold Medals for Safety.
For more information on this project contact
Powerminster Gleeson Services on 01142 820220 or visit
the website www.gleesonservices.co.uk.
Email:
joan@aylesworth-fleming.co.uk
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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