Surrey Based Paragon Community Housing Group Appoints Morrison as New Repairs and Maintenance Contractor

Paragon Community Housing Group has awarded a long term, multi million pound, contract to leading repairs and maintenance provider Morrison for the provision of maintenance services for the Group.

The five year contract, with an option to extend it for a further five years, is worth in the region of £90 million and covers four elements of work; responsive repairs and voids, gas servicing and breakdown, Decent Homes and cyclical works.

The contract will provide maintenance services to over 9,800 properties across the London Boroughs of Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames, Hounslow, Lambeth and Wandsworth; and Elmbridge, Mole Valley and Spelthorne in Surrey.

One of the key decisions for the Group was whether to award a single contract to one contractor for the provision of all four services, or up to four separate contracts to a range of contractors. After completing the procurement process, the Boards of Richmond, Elmbridge and Paragon decided to award all four lots as an integrated service delivery model to Morrison.

Lisa Power, Marketing and Communications Manager, Paragon Community Housing Group said: "Over the past few months, much work has taken place on the procurement of maintenance services for Paragon CHG. Our residents, managers and staff have committed a lot of time to the procurement process. Morrison provided a very strong bid on both a quantitative and qualitative basis scoring the highest on both elements and by appointing a single contractor; we can offset any savings against improving other services."

Simon Hayes, Managing Director South, Morrison said: "This contract offers Morrison an exciting opportunity, both in terms of the scope of the contract but also in that it marks our expansion into a new geographical area."

"Being awarded all four lots allows us to deliver a fully integrated service to Paragon, which offers increased efficiencies and cost savings combined with a high quality service for residents. Paragon Community Housing Group has an excellent reputation and we look forward to working closely with the group to develop this new partnership.

"Over the next two months we will be working closely with Paragon to engage with tenants and leaseholders about our service provision, to ensure everyone is fully informed prior to the commencement of the contract."

Morrison is due to take over the contract on the 1 June 2010 and during this time staff and residents will remain thoroughly involved and work closely with Morrison on the mobilisation of this new contract.