Housing association partners with police for 1,000-home plan

A2Dominion and Thames Valley Police remain in discussions with Cherwell Council and Oxfordshire County Council about ways to improve infrastructure routes around Howes Lane.

A2Dominion has played a key role in the wider Bicester eco-town development, of which the Howes Lane proposals form a part.

The housing association previously developed the first phase of the Elmsbrook development, which comprises 413 private and affordable homes connected to a district heating plant. A2Dominion claimed the eco-town is “the UK’s first carbon-zero development”.

At the end of last year the landlord appointed Tracey Barnes as its chief finance officer, a new role at the association as its executive shake-up continues.

Ms Barnes has taken on the position after joining the G15 landlord in 2023, initially in one of two top finance jobs at the company that are now being merged.

Dean Tufts held the other, as A2Dominion’s executive director of finance and strategy. He announced his retirement in August, after 30 years at the association.

A2Dominion is currently being investigated over possible regulatory non-compliance, and revealed in September that it had fallen to an annual deficit of £12.8m.

The changes to the association’s executive team are part of a new corporate strategy under chief executive Ian Wardle designed to tackle the problem.

The plan includes splitting its executive director of operations role to include a chief property officer, and chief customer officer to “fast-track” its turnaround plans.

Michael Reece, previously operations director, has taken the role of chief property officer under the new structure.

In December, the landlord set out why it was moving away from providing care services to focus solely on housing “amid the growing challenges faced by the wider care sector”.