News

• 2,824 homes added to the Group’s housing stock
• Capacity to build 350 homes per annum in Suffolk
• Further investment in customer service and digital offering
• Local management structure that takes advantage of regional strength

 

Today, Flagship Group and Suffolk Housing Society are pleased to announce that they have successfully joined in partnership after a year of discussions. Flagship is the East of England’s largest housing association and with a further 2,824 homes added to its stock, the Group now provides over 31,000 homes to people in need.

The new partnership will have the capacity to build 350 homes per annum in Suffolk Housing’s area of operation and increase investment in customer service and digital offering. Suffolk Housing will retain its offices in Bury St Edmunds so it can continue to deliver locally based services to residents.

Flagship recognise it can only achieve its goal of solving the housing crisis in the East of England by working with others, and this opportunity creates capacity to deliver more. 

David McQuade, Chief Executive, Flagship Group said “We're delighted to partner with Suffolk Housing. As a Group, we now employ over 1,200 local people, who are working together to provide homes and services for those in need. We aim to offer a truly local management structure that takes advantage of our regional strength.”

Partnerships with Victory Housing and Suffolk Housing, along with other joint ventures with housebuilders, are enabling Flagship to make strides in increasing the pace and scale of its affordable home delivery.

Newly appointed Flagship Group Board Member and outgoing Chair of Suffolk Housing, Carole Taylor-Brown, said “Suffolk Housing has been through a challenging time in recent years, however the partnership with Flagship strengthens Suffolk Housing and enables the company to focus heavily on our local presence and engagement. Something, Flagship has been very positive in supporting us with”.

I would personally like to thank everyone involved for their support and commitment in getting us to this point and wish Steve Cook well as the new Chair of the local Board”.

Peter Hawes, Chair, Flagship Group said, “Our partnership with Suffolk Housing is an excellent outcome and hopes to create an enhanced offer for all our customers across the Group”. Together, we can deliver more affordable housing in Suffolk and continue to invest in our existing homes across the region, creating more sustainable, vibrant and healthy communities”.

Now with three housing providers, the Group has a stronger ability to provide local services;

creating an organisation that can really improve the lives of people in the Eastern Region.

Marie-Claire Delbrouque, newly appointed Managing Director of Suffolk Housing said “I’m excited to be taking on this new role in Suffolk Housing’s brand-new chapter. Through this partnership we will be able to release operational efficiencies and concentrate on providing customers with a first-class service”.

Suffolk Housing’s Chair (from 1 February 2020), Steve Cook added “Providing the very best homes and services we can for our customers must be at the heart of all we do and this new partnership with Flagship gives us the right opportunity to achieve that.”