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Public Sector Quarterly Trends Report
The Public Sector survey keeps a finger on the pulse of the Public Sector market by monitoring activity, views and expectations. The report, published every three months, will cover forecasts of sales activity, prospects for the market, pricing trends and stock movements.
Housing stock
Fifty-seven percent of Housing Associations we spoke to in this survey expect to increase their housing stock during the next 12 months. Fourteen percent expect it to decrease and 29% expect it to stay the same.
New Build window or door programme
Seventy-six percent of the Housing Associations we spoke to have a new build programme. In total this new build programme splits into 54% houses, 41% flats and 5% bungalows (chart 2).
Replacement window or door programme
Sixty-two percent of Housing Associations have a replacement window or door programme. The windows being taken out are 17% hardwood, 4% softwood and 79% PVC-U. The old windows were replaced with 11% aluminium, 21% hardwood, 5% softwood and 63% PVC-U (chart 3).
"One of the benefits of partnering is being able to maintain employment, money and skills in our local area. We will be encouraging local reliable companies to take the opportunity of a partnership for a minimum of 5 years. We will benefit by having year in year out tendering, keeping costs down, and our tenants will benefit by keeping work in the community."
Mr J Panniers, Senior Asset Management Officer Marches Housing Association, Leominster
Frames put out to tender
Over the last 12 months 25% of Housing Associations say the number of windows and door frames per contract put out to tender has become larger. Thirty-five percent say they have become smaller and in 40% numbers have stayed the same (chart 4).
| Window and door contracts | ||||
| FABRICATION | INSTALLATION | |||
| Last 12 months | Next 12 months | Last 12 months | Next 12 months | |
| DLOs | 5% | 6% | 13% | 13% |
| Direct fabricator/ installer | 28% | 17% | 17% | 27% |
| Via main contractors | 68% | 66% | 70% | 70% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
“Partnering in social housing and the Decent Homes Standard will see continuity and control in providing people with better living conditions. It will also provide long term commitment and a fair footing for reputable fabricators. We have our own maintenance work force which not only reduces costs but gives us the control to monitor the quality of work, which means a better service for our residents.”
Mr Paul Jessett, Projects Surveyor
Ridgehill Housing Association Ltd, Hertfordshire
Issues
Health & Safety and the Decent Homes Standard are, by a long way, the most important issues for Housing Associations in the next 12 months (chart 5).
|
Most important issues for Housing Associations (next 12 months) | |
| Health & Safety | 1st |
| Decent Homes Standard | 2nd |
| Security | 3rd |
| Skills shortages | 4th |
| Environmental issues | 5th |
| Recycling | 6th |
Window Fabricators' sales to Housing Associations
A net 23% of fabricators who do public sector work (the difference between the number of organisations reporting an increase over those reporting a decrease) sold more to Housing Associations in the last three months compared with the same time last year (see chart 6).
Outlook
A net one in four fabricators expect increased activity in the next three months compared with the same time last year. Expectations grow with the size of fabricator. All regions expect increases except Scotland where no change is forecast.
Comment
“Continued government investment in the public sector means that one third of all construction is now public sector related", says Mike Stevenson, Sales & Marketing Director of leading public sector window system, System10. "And the trend looks likely to continue. Sponsoring the survey reflects System10's commitment to this market.“The Decent Homes Standard is the second most important issue for Housing Associations in the next 12 months in this survey. Running alongside the Decency Standards for existing properties is the key issue that Britain requires between 220,000 and 230,000 new dwellings each year to keep up with demand. The main problem is that private developers haven't filled the gap left by the public sector. More than 400,000 homes were built every year in the 60's. Half of these by local councils. Social housing is once again a recognised priority, and is destined to become even more important to the economy for years to come. The prospects for providers and their private sector partners are looking good”.
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The Public Sector Survey, a quarterly trends report, is produced by Michael Rigby Associates and sponsored by System10 . The aim is to keep a finger on the public sector's market pulse, and to view housing specifiers' and fabricators' expectations of market movements. The survey covers a representative sample of 40 housing specifiers and 60 window and door fabricators. Telephone interviews took place between the 6-21 November 2003 across a balanced spread of size of organisation and geographical area. © Copyright Michael Rigby Associates 2003 Full report available free: call Kirsten Storgaard on (01453) 521621 or from www.521621.com |
