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Bernicia Homes boss to chair North East housing collective
John Johnston, chief executive of Bernicia Homes, has been named as the new chair of the North East Housing Partnership (NEHP).
Bernicia Homes boss to chair North East housing collective #UKhousingJohn Johnston, chief executive of Bernicia Homes, has been named as the new chair of the North East Housing Partnership #UKhousingMr Johnston will lead the partnership – a collective of 19 social housing providers in the North East of England – in delivering on the four themes set out in its prospectus for 2026.
These include development and regeneration; quality of homes and investment; better lives, skills and inclusion; and homelessness, specialist and supported housing.
Mr Johnston has been vice-chair at the NEHP since it launched in 2023 and will take over the chair role from Paul Fiddaman, chief executive of Karbon Homes, when he steps down in April.
Louise Bassett, chief executive of Gentoo Group, will take over as vice-chair.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr Johnston said: “The North East Housing Partnership has been on a fantastic journey over the past three years.
“We mobilised to work together and collaborate, and to support our combined authority and local authority partners in the delivery of ambitious growth plans that are unlocking the potential of our region and improving living standards for the region’s people.
“Looking back, we have already achieved so much together, building new and improving existing homes, providing support and opportunity to improve the quality of life and life chances for our tenants and the wider communities we serve.
“Our success has been because of our brilliant members, mutually supporting each other and delivering positive impacts across a wide range of projects. We hope we are now viewed as a key delivery partner in the North East and have exciting plans for the future.”
Mr Fiddaman added: “It’s been great to see the partnership grow over the past three years and I’m proud to have been able to play such a role in the brilliant projects and initiatives it’s delivered to date.
“We knew that by bringing the region’s providers together, we could do so much more and deliver great outcomes for our customers, but it’s been brilliant to see such a significant shift from organisation working in relative isolation to the development of a strong and unified force for change.
“NEHP’s successes to date highlight perfectly the extend of what can be achieved if as a housing sector we invest together, work together and plan together.”
The partnership includes housing associations and local authorities across the North East, with partners collectively owning and managing more than 200,000 homes.
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