Wates Group is a family-owned, award-winning company delivering a range of schemes from housing and retail projects to commercial developments and property maintenance.
The company is one of the largest in the UK and is divided into a number of businesses, including the newly restructured Wates Living Space.
In September 2015, Wates Living Space announced a new national structure to support ambitious growth plans over the next four years. The structure – which took effect from 1st September 2015 – has seen the creation of two separate divisions under the Living Space brand: a Maintenance division and a Homes division. Each division is supported by a dedicated management team who are focused on securing further growth opportunities within these two different sectors.
The Homes division of Wates Living Space is being overseen by Managing Director, Jo Jamieson who is accountable for the division’s new build and partnership housing activities across all regions. Jo will report to Wates Living Space Managing Director, Andy Hobart and takes up the role following her previous appointment as Regional Managing Director of Wates Living Space’s new build activities in the East.
Managing Director of Wates Living Space, Andy Hobart continues to oversee the Maintenance division, supported by Regional Managing Directors, David Morgan in the South and Steve Jackson in the Midlands and North.
The announcement reaffirms Wates Living Space’s long-term commitment to deliver more and better homes across the UK, helping to tackle the nation’s urgent need for housing. In support of this aim, the business plans to grow both divisions to create a sustainable £500m Maintenance division and a £250m Homes division.
The two divisions will offer Wates Living Space’s housing association and local authority clients a full range of services. Maintenance will offer planned and responsive maintenance programmes, void and energy services, while Homes will provide contracting and development services.
In a statement, Andy Hobart, Managing Director of Wates Living Space, said the recent announcement brings Wates even closer to becoming the UK’s leading affordable housing and maintenance contractor.
He said:
“The clear separation of our Maintenance and Homes divisions under the Wates Living Space brand gives us a strong foundation on which to seize emerging business opportunities and to make our ambitious growth goals a reality. This is an exciting time for the business and we look forward to working alongside our local authority and housing association partners to continue driving excellent service and providing a market leading offer across both our Homes and Maintenance divisions.”
A recent project for Wates Living Space is the Morfydd Street project in Wales. The £1.5m scheme – which recently completed in Swansea – comprised the construction of 26 apartments, including 18 one-bedroom apartments and eight, two-bedroom apartments.
The project covered an area of 3300 sq m and reached completion in October 2015. Materials used included double glazed windows, render, facing brickwork and slate roofing.
A mix of hard and soft landscaping completed the scheme, which included the installation of a car park.
Wates Living Space was the main contractor on the project which was delivered for the client, Coastal Housing Group Limited. Rio Architects Limited provided architectural services on the scheme.
For more information about Wates, please visit: www.wates.co.uk.
