J Tomlinson & Ashfield District Council - Housing Refurbishment Partnership

Ashfield District Council is a Local Authority managing council homes in Ashfield, North Nottinghamshire.

J Tomlinson has had a positive long-term relationship with the organisation stretching back over more than ten years. The firm has undertaken a range of maintenance and repairs contracts, including providing a comprehensive 3* domestic gas servicing, maintenance and repairs service, securing consecutive contract renewals through consistent high quality workmanship, excellent customer service and strong safety standards.

In 2015, J Tomlinson was appointed to carry out more than £30m worth of improvements to the housing stock – the company’s largest ever single contract. The work includes replacing kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems, electrical installations, roof coverings, windows and external doors. It also includes scope to undertake other improvement works to benefit tenants’ homes and their surroundings, including carbon and environmental efficiency saving measures.

As Ashfield District Council’s capital works partner, J Tomlinson is refurbishing a wide range of housing types, including low-rise buildings, sheltered housing, and, in particular, the firm is responsible for upgrading a high proportion of post-war, non-traditional homes.

The majority of the client’s 7,000 properties are concentrated within the three main towns of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Hucknall and Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

As with all J Tomlinson contracts, each project undertaken on behalf of Ashfield District Council is delivered under J Tomlinson’s ethos of ‘approaching everything together’. Some of the many benefits of the partnership include:

A collaborative approach – Prior to each project, J Tomlinson agrees clear plans with quantified targets, covering all aspects of delivery. The client is kept updated through a daily tracking system, weekly meetings and high-level director’s reports.

Co-location - each member of our contract management team spends time at Ashfield’s head office, helping to ensure immediate and effective communication, increase efficiency and nurture a truly collaborative partnership.

Tenant interaction - J Tomlinson works hard to establish relationships with tenants and ensure minimal disruption is caused when improvements are taking place. Tenants are assigned a Resident Liaison Officer, who assists with everything from moving furniture to acting as a friendly and approachable point of contact, whether for questions or just a chat. The company also organises coffee mornings and fish and chip lunches prior to and during work taking place, giving tenants a chance to engage with the people enhancing their homes, as well as bring the community together.

Enhanced living conditions for residents - Creation and implementation of agenda specifically focused on tacking fuel poverty across dwellings

Award-winning partnership - Ashfield District Council and J Tomlinson have won several awards for their joint achievements, including the Collaborative Working title at the Building Communities Awards 2018.

Improved aesthetics - with new windows, doors and external finishes transforming estates and helping to instil pride in the community

Significant community and social value initiatives - including school activities, work experience opportunities, educational visits, litter picking projects, fun days and job centre engagement

• Hiring of local apprentices – at least 12 over five years
• £30 million - client investment
• Current KPI of progress against planned work – 99.4%
• Estimated carbon savings of work carried out in 2016/2017 alone is circa 620 tonnes per annum