Network launches £750m contractor search

Major London housing association Network has launched a search for contractors for a four-year £750m construction framework to deliver part of its 5,000-home development strategy.

The 20,000-home housing association issued a public tender for contractors to build homes for it across four different lots.

Network, a member of the G15 group of major London associations, is looking for contractors to build out an existing pipeline of 2,500 homes, part of its wider ambition to build 5,000 homes in total over the next five years.

The housing association said the four different lots would see it search for six contractors to deliver jobs of up to £10m in value, 9-10 contractors for £10-£35m jobs, a further 9-10 contractors for £35m-plus jobs, and five firms to deliver construction management services.

Network said the framework will be available for all of its subsidiaries to use as well as, potentially, other housing associations, local authorities and ALMOs. It has 18 projects currently on site, and existing opportunities include a 575 unit residential-led development in Southall and a 1 600 unit placemaking scheme at Northwick Park.

While Network estimated the total construction value of the framework at £750m, it said that the current uncertainty in the market, plus uncertainty over how many clients will ultimately use it, meant that the figure was likely to in practice vary considerably from £750m.