Published: 26th June 2024
Area: Social Housing
Following a competitive tender process, we have secured a place on the Communities and Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) legal services framework.
Over the next four years, the 24-strong panel will share work with an estimated value of £50 million. The framework has four ‘lots’ covering corporate, governance and finance; housing and asset management; development; and property.
CHIC, formed in 2010 as a not-for-profit organisation, supports housing providers and local authorities to ensure they can provide the best service to their residents. Louise Drew, partner and head of building communities, said: “We are extremely proud to have been appointed to CHIC’s relaunched legal panel. This opportunity allows us to offer a comprehensive suite of legal support to CHIC’s members over the next four years.
“The current housing landscape presents significant challenges, with a national shortage of affordable and social homes that is expected to grow. In this rapidly changing market, registered providers require robust advice and innovative solutions to meet the increasing demand.
“Our specialist legal and non-legal teams are dedicated to advising delivery partners of affordable and social housing in all facets – from securing development finance and innovative structures to collaborative working and managing the sale or rental of properties.
“This appointment is testament to the quality of our people and our unwavering commitment to supporting our clients in the social housing sector as they navigate both the challenges and opportunities presented to them.
“We look forward to contributing to the CHIC and supporting its members in their mission to deliver exceptional services to residents.”
CHIC is a member-owned and governed consortium that delivers compliant procurement solutions and commercial support to members. The consortium secures savings for members and is committed to the delivery of improved environmental outcomes and added social value.
John Fisher, chief executive at CHIC, said: “CHIC is delighted to be able to meet market demand through our new framework, supporting our members to access specialised legal services. By partnering with Kennedy Cater and leading law firms in the housing sector like Shakespeare Martineau, we aim to provide our members with tailored solutions that address their specific legal requirements at a competitive cost.”
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Louise is the Head of the Building Communities team, having a passion for delivering development that brings major benefit to residents in terms of health, wellbeing, education, employment and the environment.
Specialising in the acquisition and sale of a wide range of affordable housing, she offers considerable insight and experience in delivering new residential schemes, on time and within budget. Louise assists clients in finding solutions to operational issues arising in relation to their housing stock. Her specialist focus is in housing with care, having drafted many bespoke leases to secure viability of complex schemes and is an expert in outright, shared ownership, buy-backs and large scale asset disposals in the later living market.
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Social Housing
Navigating the complex landscape of providing housing that benefits both residents and landlords presents a significant challenge. With a team of experts possessing extensive knowledge in social housing, residential and commercial development, planning and construction, as well as expertise in housing management, employment, finance, funding, corporate, and commercial law, we are committed to assembling a dedicated advisory team for you. Our goal is to support you in achieving your objectives and addressing the current supply shortage.
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