Karli Edmondson
Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 4:23 pm

Beechdale Community Housing Association (BCHA) is planning to team up with a new partner to regenerate a Walsall estate.

Bosses plan to join with Birmingham-based housing association Friendship Care and Housing. 

BCHA will be consulting tenants and shareholders on the proposed change and explaining what service and other improvements residents will see.

Subject to consultation and the legalities of the partnership deal being completed by next spring, they plan to work together to breathe new life into the Beechdale estate.

Priorities include improving quality of life for residents, providing more affordable homes and community development opportunities.

BCHA chair and tenant Gillian Fellows said: “When we began looking for a partner to help us build a better Beechdale, we were keen to find an organisation we could work in harmony with.

 “We have found an ideal partner in Friendship and we very much look forward to an exciting future together, building a relationship with them to achieve the best for our residents.”

Jonathan Driffill, Managing Director of Friendship, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as BCHA’s partner and we are determined to do all we can to help improve the lives of our customers.”

BCHA began seeking a partner to help bring about long-term improvements on the estate after a doorstep survey last year when tenants flagged up what changes they wanted to see in the neighbourhood.

Around 30 Midland housing associations were considered and representatives from 17 attended a Bidders’ Conference in March. BCHA drew up a shortlist of three before choosing Friendship.

Gillian added: “We chose Friendship because it is clear that we share the same values – focusing on the needs and wishes of our residents, and working with the local community to achieve the improvements they want to see.”

Friendship, which is part of the Longhurst Group, provides affordable and supported housing across the Midlands. It currently manages around 3,400 homes and supports more than 800 people.