Aster Group appoints contractors to £150m framework

Ethical housebuilder Aster Group has appointed two contractors to a new partnering arrangement worth £150m.

Galliford Try Partnerships and Gloucester based E G Carter & Co Ltd have partnered with Aster to deliver a future land-led programme over the next five years. This will see the contractors deliver up to 500 new homes across the south of England each year for the group.

The contract forms part of Aster’s wider plans to invest £1.5bn in new homes between now and 2024, including the delivery of a record 1,100 properties during 2017/18.

The group is increasing its land-led development sites. Its schemes comprise a mix of open-market sale, shared ownership, affordable and social-rented housing.

Tony Clifford, assistant development director – construction and technical at Aster Group, said: “We are increasing the number of homes we build every year and our footprint continues to expand across the south of England.

“We have recognised that by working closely with the right number of contractors who share our vision we can build strong long-term partnerships that will support Aster in delivering more land-led opportunities over the coming years.

“These partnerships complement the delivery of our section 106 developments and support our vision that everyone has a home.”

 The partnering contract is for an initial five-year period.

Marc Thompson, head of strategy and projects at Galliford Try Partnerships, said: “Galliford Try Partnerships has ambitious plans for growth throughout the south of England and strategic partnerships with like-minded organisations such as Aster are key to delivering our goals.

“We look forward to working with Aster over the coming years to help them realise their ambitions and increase the supply of housing for local communities.”

Mathew Vye, manager – partnership housing at E G Carter & Co Ltd, added: “We are delighted to have been selected by Aster to work collaboratively in developing new homes throughout the south of England under the contractor framework agreement.”

Last month, Aster announced a reshaping of its senior development team as part of its ambitious housebuilding programme. The new team includes director of development and sales Jane Gallifent, who joined from Clarion Housing Group.

Aster’s current land-led schemes include 38 homes at a site in Hambleton Avenue in Devizes, Wiltshire and 36 homes to be built in Tadley, near Basingstoke. The group is the preferred bidder to build 109 properties in the Bargates area of Christchurch, Dorset, and recently completed the 94-home Finn Square development in Weymouth, Dorset.