Scotland’s largest social landlord to almost halve in size
Glasgow HA chief to cut stock levels
The new chief executive of Scotland’s largest social landlord has indicated it will reduce to almost half its peak size, in his first interview since taking the job.
Martin Armstrong, chief executive of Glasgow Housing Association, who took up his post last month, said it has an opportunity to create something ‘unique’ in Glasgow.
He said the organisation already had the foundations to build ‘something that gives all of us an opportunity to contribute to Glasgow as a great place to live and work’.
He indicated, though, that GHA will see a substantial reduction in its stock. One of the main charges levelled by GHA’s critics in the past has been that it has delayed a process known as secondary stage transfer - by which it was due to pass on some of its homes to smaller local housing organisations.
GHA was set up in 2003 to take 81,000 homes from Glasgow Council.
The organisation now has 60,000 properties with tenants living in them. But Mr Armstrong said that it has plans to transfer a further 16,000 to community-based organisations. It has other homes earmarked for demolition as part of regeneration schemes.
Mr Armstrong said that if all the tenants voted to transfer then GHA would be left with 44,000 homes with tenants. Mr Armstrong explained all transfers would have to be ‘credible’ and ensure ‘financial neutrality’ for its remaining tenants.
There is no timescale for the transfers as yet, but Mr Armstrong said that an assessment of the programme would start towards the end of the year and spill over into spring 2011. The general election may affect when any ballots held, he added.
‘We have really motivated, empowered, strong tenants,’ he said. ‘There’s an opportunity for us to build something special.’
Fraser Stewart, director of community-based housing association New Gorbals, was happy with the discussions he has had with Mr Armstrong so far. ‘We are no longer fighting with the GHA,’ he said. ‘GHA as an organisation is going to be in a far better place than it has been in the past because it has housing professionals running it.’
For the full interview, see Inside Housing on 19 February.
GHA
Seven years of turmoil
March 2003 GHA is set up
September 2003 Sam Harper, chair of GHA for three years, resigns
June 2003 Chief executive Michael Lennon is appointed
July 2007 Taroub Zahran is appointed chief executive
June 2009 Scottish Housing Regulator produces a report saying GHA lacks direction
August 2009 Vice chair of GHA Fred Shedden resigns from the board and writes a letter to a Scottish newspaper says he was forced out. Ms Zahran also steps down
1 December 2009 Martin Armstrong named new chief executive
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Readers' comments (1)
Peter | 29/01/2010 1:47 pm
Clearly his salary was not commensurate with the current stock level!
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