Great Places misses build target by 35% as it names new development director

Great Places Housing Group has announced the appointment of a new director of development as it revealed it missed its original build target for 2021/22 by 35%

The 24,000-home housing association, which said in February it had revised its ambitions for the year down due to supply chain issues and planning delays, announced it completed 557 homes in 2021/22. This is 35% less than the 858 units the Manchester-based organisation had originally targeted.

A spokesperson last month said development would be lower due to “ongoing challenges around labour, materials, expedience of planning approvals and land registration”

The announcement of the figure comes as Great Places confirms the appointment of a new director to oversee the group’s development programme as it seeks to build 9,000 homes by 2028 and meet a corporate plan target of 11,000 over the next decade.

Insider Nick Gornall has been promoted to director of development, filling the vacancy left by Helen Spencer’s promotion to executive director of growth.

Gornall will oversee Great Places’ £240.8m strategic partnership agreement with Homes England which is expected to deliver 4,920 homes.

Spencer’s role is strategic and also invoves overseeeing Great Places’ £750m Innovation Chain North construction framework, and sales arm Plumlife. He will also oversee growth of the association’s in-house contractor Terra Nova Developments.

Gornall said: “I’m really looking forward to taking on this new challenge and continuing playing a leading role in developing the team and helping Great Places realise its ambitious development plans.”

Great Places has not been alone in slowing down development due to operating envrionment difficulties. Sovereign halved its build rates in the first half of 2021/22 due to shortages of materials.