History & Background
Legal status and constitution
The Association is registered with the Registry of Friendly Societies under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (registration number 21033R) and with the Housing Corporation under the Housing Associations Act 1985 (registration number L0249). The Association is an exempt charity and operates under the National Housing Federation Model Rules 2005 (revised). The Association’s Standing Orders and Financial Regulations were fully reviewed in 2004 as part of the governance review.
The Association has a fully owned subsidiary Arcon Developments Limited that is registered under the Companies Act.
Brief History
The Association was formed in 1972 as Arcon Housing Association (Cost Rent) Limited and changed its name to Arcon Housing Association Limited in 1975. From then to the present date the Association has built over a 1,000 properties in Greater Manchester and 250 properties in Wales that were later moved to locally based associations. About 70% of the Association’s property portfolio is new build and 30% “rehab” (properties bought and refurbished during the late 70s/early 80s).
For the first twenty years the Association was managed by Wheeler Wood & Redmond, a firm of chartered surveyors. In the early 1990s the operations were transferred in-house and continuity was maintained with partners and staff of Wheeler Wood & Redmond being appointed to positions with the Association. Consequently, the Association is in the fortunate position of being able to draw on experience that goes back over 30 years.
The main period of development was from 1975 to 1988 and activity in the 1990s and 2000s has centred round specialist housing and market rent schemes that have been funded out of reserves and by loans.
Housing Stock
The Association as at 31st March 2007, owned 909 units of general needs social housing of which 261 were rehab properties with the remainder being new build. The Association also owned 38 units of accommodation that are used for special needs purposes and are managed for the Association by means of management agreements and/or lease arrangements. The Association manages 34 properties on behalf of the Fairfield Moravian Housing Association and the James Ainsworth and Dixon Almshouses. In addition 32 market rent properties have been built or purchased within the last 7 years. The total number of units owned and managed at 31st March 2007 was 1,020.
The Association also leasehold manages 44 properties purchased under the Right to Buy legislation.
