Housing association moves into first purpose-built office

Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) has officially moved into its new purpose-built office in Clifton.

For the first time in its 51 year history, the social housing and social care provider has an office that can accommodate all central departments under one roof.

Built on the site of the old college off Farnborough Road, NCHA have created an open plan workplace, complete with a 24-hour call centre, training facility and depot for their repairs and maintenance teams. The office sits alongside a new supported housing scheme, independent accommodation for older people, and the existing community sport facilities.

The build has been completed by GEDA construction, and designed by NCHA’s own in-house architects, Pelham. The wider scheme, costing around £22m has been funded by NCHA, with contribution from Homes England for the residential properties. The scheme forms part of the programme for NCHA’s Strategic Partnership, 2021-2026, aimed at delivering affordable housing across the East Midlands.

The development has been designed to meet BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) excellent standards, the benchmark for best practices in sustainable design. Air source heat pumps, solar panels and an advance ventilation system are just a few of the environmentally-friendly elements included.

Paul Moat, chief executive at NCHA, said: “Welcoming the first colleagues to our new workplace today marks the culmination of years of planning. There is so much potential here in. I can’t wait to watch it transform in the coming weeks and months into a buzzing hub that will take NCHA forward for decades to come.”