England: Housing association buys construction firm

Housing association Thirteen Homes has acquired a construction company to bolster its commitment to delivering high quality housing throughout the North of England.

Employing around 50 people, Hartlepool-based Gus Robinson Developments Limited delivers a wide range of construction and building services.

With revenues for its current financial year forecast to be in the region of £25 million, the company has been highly-successful in delivering construction projects for a variety of clients ranging from local authorities and health trusts, through to private businesses and registered housing providers.

Thirteen Homes has acquired 100 percent of the business, which will continue to be based in Hartlepool, trading as Gus Robinson Developments Ltd where it will be operated by its existing management team in partnership with Thirteen Homes.

Thirteen has also pledged its support to the Gus Robinson Foundation, which helps local young people on their pathway to successful careers and sporting achievement. Thirteen Homes is the housing development arm of Thirteen Group, which is the largest housing association in the North East, owning and managing just under 34,000 homes from an area covering Northumberland to York.

Through Thirteen Homes houses for outright sale are constructed with the profits reinvested by Thirteen Group in its social housing delivery. In addition to delivering homes for sale, Gus Robinson Developments will also deliver affordable housing schemes and specialist housing projects on behalf of Thirteen Group.

The acquisition of Gus Robinson Developments, which has a long-standing trading relationship with Thirteen, will enable Thirteen to increase its building activity to meet the requirements of communities in the North East and North Yorkshire. Gus Robinson Developments will still provide contracting construction and building services to current and potential new customers such as housing associations, housebuilders and local authorities as well other organisations across the region.

Gus Robinson owner Dan Robinson said: “It was always at the forefront of our minds when we entered this process that we sold the business to an organisation that embodied similar values to those that have underpinned Gus Robinson Developments throughout the company’s incredible journey. In Thirteen Group, I am delighted to say we have found that organisation.”

Ian Wardle, CEO of Thirteen Group, added: “As one of our long-standing construction partners we have always been impressed with the quality of homes delivered by Gus Robinson Developments and we are convinced that as part of Thirteen the company will flourish further and play a more significant role in the development of the North of England’s housing requirements for us and other organisations that need construction and building services.”

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