Platform Housing Group announces appointments to £22.4m legal services framework
Nine firms have been appointed to the panel for four years
Platform Housing Group (PHG), one of the largest not-for-profit housing associations in the Midlands, has announced appointments to its new four-year, £22.4m legal services framework. The new agreement officially started on 17 January and replaces the current panel arrangement.
The Group appointed nine firms to its panel, which will support PHG as it delivers against its ambition to create 12,000 new homes over the next five years.
PHG owns and manages 46,000 homes across the Midlands, with a portfolio that includes social and affordable rent and shared ownership houses. It was recently appointed as one of Homes England’s Strategic Partners for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26. It completed 1448 homes in 2019/20, with an investment of £258m. It operates from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South.
National law firm Browne Jacobson was re-appointed to the panel for property and employment work. The firm will continue to advise on a broad range of practice areas including construction, development, planning, property and sales. It will also support the group from an employment law perspective for the first time.
Gabor Taller, relationship partner for PHG at Browne Jacobson, commented: “This re-appointment is a fantastic result for us. We are proud to have supported Platform’s growth and ambitious development plans for the last 15 years and I am delighted that our journey together will continue for another four years. Browne Jacobson is committed to being at the heart of addressing society’s biggest challenges and Platform’s values and purpose align perfectly with this.”
James Tait, partner and head of employment at Browne Jacobson, added that the employment team were “thrilled” to have the opportunity to work with PHG.
Top 100 UK law firm, Hugh James, was also appointed to provide property support – from acquisition, planning, construction, through to sales.
Commercial Property Partner, Caroline O’Flaherty, commented: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been chosen to work with such a large and innovative housing provider and to be advising on schemes at the forefront of the decarbonisation agenda.
“The Platform Group is well-regarded for its commitment to creating thriving places for people to live, work and play. We’re looking forward to working on some fantastic projects which aim to strike a balance between creating quality homes, community and open spaces.”
PHG’s procurement director, Nathan Barson, said: “It is great to see our new Category Management function using the tools and techniques to deliver such high quality work; not only have we successfully mapped our complex requirements but we have managed to secure commercially robust agreements with some of the country's leading law firms. We have added value, successfully matched our ambitions to the leading players in the market and ensured we have the partnerships in place for a truly modern housing association.”