Over the next year Choice Housing, a social housing provider in Northern Ireland, will spend over £15m on their planned maintenance programme. £1.3m has already been invested in a significant number of kitchen replacements across Belfast, which involved an ambitious programme of renovations across almost 200 homes, delivering modern, functional kitchens that meet the needs of tenants.
This investment is part of Choice Housings new Asset Management Strategy which will progress Choice’s ongoing investment in their full portfolio which will see the housing association spend over £80m on maintenance and new housing projects over the next three years.
In Carrick Hill, 104 homes underwent extensive upgrades, executed by Bells / CB Contracts. The project was completed in six phases, showcasing Choice Housing’s commitment to high standards and tenant satisfaction. In East and West Belfast, the programme, managed by Equans, encompasses over 67 general needs homes.
The new kitchen design features modern finishes, offering tenants a choice of colours and styles for units, worktops, and flooring. The kitchen replacement programme, which includes fire, heat and smoke detectors, not only improves the quality of life for Choice tenants but also represents Choice Housing’s commitment invest in the future. Each renovation was completed within a timeframe of approximately 7 to 10 days per property, ensuring focus on efficiency and minimal disruption to tenants. The first phase of this initiative commenced in February 2024, with final projects scheduled for completion by mid-October.
Wilton Farrelly, Group Director of Asset Services said, “The launch of our latest Asset Management Strategy outlines our plans to 2027, with the aim of maintaining the asset value of our stock whilst improving the quality, safety and efficiency of accommodation of our tenants.”
“The programme of works completed across Belfast is one strand of this plan and we are pleased to see the successful implementation of this project. The kitchen replacement programme is not just about upgrading spaces; it represents our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of our tenants and enhancing the communities we serve.”
Choice Housing remains dedicated to investing in the future of the community, ensuring that all tenants have access to safe, comfortable, and high-quality homes.
John Legg, a Choice tenant was very pleased with the new upgrades to his home, “I couldn’t be happier with my new kitchen. The design is modern, and I love the choice of colours and finishes. It’s not just about looks; everything is so much more functional now.”
Over the next three years, Choice aim to invest over £50m in capital projects alone, all informed by the association’s annual stock condition survey programme which allows Choice to prioritise planned projects.
A range of other commitments forms part of this ambitious strategy, for example, the increased use of date and new technology to deliver a better service for tenants, staff and the sector and formally benchmarking stock, response, planned and void maintenance costs on an ongoing basis to ensure value for money. Choice also aims to increase its Energy Performance Certificates Rating to 78 by 2030.
