Pictured: Suzy Brain England

The past year has been difficult for housing - but Derwent Living chair Suzy Brain England says that 2010/11 has been a time of change and innovation for the organisation.

Suzy, who was made chair of the housing provider a year ago, says that it has been an "exciting year" with a greater focus on customer involvement and dramatic changes to how housing providers are regulated in England.  2010/11 also saw Derwent Living look at new ways of gaining finance to expand its affordable housing portfolio.

She said: "It has been a privilege to be at Derwent Living - during a time of reflection and great change. I knew that Derwent Living had a reputation for being an innovative organisation and I am glad to be part of that. For many years, it has been growing its commercial portfolio in order to support its social housing values."

Derwent Living is set to become one of the largest housing providers in the Midlands following a landmark £45 million deal to fund the transfer of 839 properties to its housing stock from housing association Home Group which is rationalising stock outside its key area of the north east.

"This is a landmark move," says Suzy, "and a UK first, which will see the total of 1135 social properties transfer to Derwent Living in a deal being financed by Aviva Investors.

"The transfer will bring Derwent Living's stock total to around 15,000 properties - making it one of the largest housing associations in the Midlands. 850 of the properties acquired are in Derby - Derwent Living's core area for social housing. The move will enable Derwent Living to provide an even more effective service locally in terms of maintenance and repairs."

The deal, says Suzy, was an innovative funding solution. "It was down to the persistence and imagination of the Derwent Living executive team and its board," she said.

While Derwent Living looks at innovative ways to raise finance, the organisation must not rule out the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). 

"I would not want people to think we don't want funding from them. It is still important to support homes for social good and we will continue to seek support where it is possible," she said.

"We were disappointed by the recent affordable homes allocation from the HCA, but we are positive about our ability to use commercial profits to build additional affordable homes without grant."

Another crucial target for the past 12 months was for Derwent Living to put governance structures in place so there is transparency and greater clarity to what part of the organisation's business is commercial and which is social.

Over the coming year, it is vital for Derwent Living to continue to maintain its housing stock - and create more affordable properties where possible, she said.

Suzy has also helped the organisation engage with customers.

"I very much encouraged the board and staff to play a greater ambassadorial role where there is more regular opportunity for boards to meet customers. In particular, success of this was evidence at our AGM," she said.

"Our AGM this year saw 150 customers joining us.  We had 30 customers watch a live stream of the event and in the week following the AGM, more people went on line to watch a re-run. 

"This demonstrates that we have not only grown in our understanding about customer engagement, but we are also understanding the ways in which we need to engage. This is not only via traditional methods, but also through new technologies like social media."

Suzy says Derwent Living must continue to talk openly and proactively to ALMOs to look at potential for new build in their localities. Also for the coming year, Derwent Living will be contracting for a replacement for Connaught, its repairs partner.

Suzy added: "We do not underestimate the difficult times we are working in. Since the TSA and the Audit Commission were under notice, self regulation is at the heart of our organisation with us committed to - and enthusiastically embracing - the challenges in the housing sector.

"As always our customers continue to be involved in decision making processes. They will always be included and consulted so that their views are taken into account."

Suzy has had a long and varied career in public life spanning housing, health, benefits and helping people off welfare and into work. As well as being chair of Derwent Living's board, Suzy is the chair at Berneslai Homes and chair of Voice UK, a charity for victims of crime with learning difficulties.