Law firm appointed to housing group’s legal panel

Independent legal practice Brabners has been appointed to the legal panel of the Lancashire-based housing group, Progress Housing Group.

Brabners was successful in all six lots applied, qualifying the firm to bid for legal work worth a projected £500,000 over the course of a five-year contract.

Progress Housing Group owns and manages more than 10,000 homes across the UK, two thirds of which are in the North West.

It has fixed assets worth at least £500m and an annual turnover of around £75m.

The work covered by the panel includes property, development, corporate, employment, housing management, commercial, compliance and governance services.

Brabners is a highly active legal adviser in the social housing sector, supporting more than 90 housing associations across the UK.

The firm has expanded its presence in the North West over the past two years winning a number of tenders including Warrington-based Your Housing Group, Leeds Federated Housing, and Castle & Coasts in Cumbria.

Its Manchester housing and regeneration team has doubled in size in the past 12 months following key appointments, including Katherine Mercer, Rebecca Aspin and a promotion for Heather Butler.

Peter Barlow, partner and head of housing and regeneration for Brabners in Manchester, said: “Being included on this legal panel reflects the growing presence our housing team has cultivated in Manchester. Progress Housing Group is the latest in a line of local associations to enlist our services.”

He added: “Housing associations play a vital role in solving the housing crisis we currently face in the UK. Progress has a proven track record of ensuring the sector delivers the right mix of homes through championing affordable housing options like social rent and shared ownership.

“It is encouraging for us, as a practice, to see such an important player in social housing recognise our position as a leading adviser to the sector and we look forward to supporting them in their work to address one of the most important social issues of our time.”