Housing association moves out of council building

11:00am Sunday 6th January 2013 in News By James Nadal

Housing association moves out of council building Housing association moves out of council building

THE housing association which took over 6,700 homes in Wycombe will shed its final major links with the council when it moves to a new base this month.

Red Kite Community Housing bought Wycombe District Council's housing stock in December 2011 after tenants voted in favour of a transfer.

The newly formed company has been based at WDC's High Wycombe headquarters since but on January 30 will move to new premises in Kingsmead Business Park.

Red Kite Chief Executive Trevor Morrow said while he could not disclose the numbers, the company would be paying significantly less for its new ten year lease and it was a value for money agreement.

The terms of the deal are subject to confidentiality, he said.

WDC would also not reveal the amount it received from Red Kite for the 14 months at its Queen Victoria Road offices.

WDC spokesman Sue Robinson said: “Red Kite have rented office space and paid a market rate rent to Wycombe District Council.

“We would not normally disclose the rents our tenants pay as this is commercially confidential information.”

Important aspects of the move include the extra space the new offices provide, Red Kite said.

Mr Morrow said: “This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here.

“We’ve worked really hard over the last 12 months to set ourselves up as a new business which has been tough at times, especially since we don’t all work in the same building, but now that we have secured a new office and can finally move in, we can’t wait.”

Tenants and leaseholders will still be able to contact Red Kite via the same phone numbers and email address.

The new address is: Red Kite Community Housing Windsor Court Kingsmead Business Park Frederick Place High Wycombe Bucks HP11 1JU

Comments (14)

1:32pm Sun 6 Jan 13

MrsFBucks says...

So they have moved right out of the town centre......not at all inconvient for those people on low incomes who will need to catch an additional bus to go and see them....
So they have moved right out of the town centre......not at all inconvient for those people on low incomes who will need to catch an additional bus to go and see them.... MrsFBucks

4:05pm Sun 6 Jan 13

miccles says...

I must admit, with all the empty spaces in the town, or a bit nearer, this is a bit of a stupid out of the way move.
I must admit, with all the empty spaces in the town, or a bit nearer, this is a bit of a stupid out of the way move. miccles

6:10pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Helen 123 says...

It must be difficult finding a town centre building that would be able to accommodate all those staff and the parking that would be required town centre rent and rates must be high too. There are not that many empty properties in the town and Kingsmead is only a short distance away from the town centre isn't it?
It must be difficult finding a town centre building that would be able to accommodate all those staff and the parking that would be required town centre rent and rates must be high too. There are not that many empty properties in the town and Kingsmead is only a short distance away from the town centre isn't it? Helen 123

6:35pm Sun 6 Jan 13

bonkers2010 says...

this may be a problem now for some people . but i have had to catch a bus for the past thirty years to go to the council . now i can walk . all the people within 10-15 min walk from town have walked for free for thirty years .. now its the turn of the east of wycombe to be able to walk . a run about ticket is 4.00 and will take you on all buses within a few miles of wycombe all day
this may be a problem now for some people . but i have had to catch a bus for the past thirty years to go to the council . now i can walk . all the people within 10-15 min walk from town have walked for free for thirty years .. now its the turn of the east of wycombe to be able to walk . a run about ticket is 4.00 and will take you on all buses within a few miles of wycombe all day bonkers2010

7:55pm Sun 6 Jan 13

Contax says...

I would have thought £4 to ride on a bus all day is hard to find if you are living on the breadline, then how much extra if you have kids to drag with you or do you lock them in the house unsupervised like some do.
I would have thought £4 to ride on a bus all day is hard to find if you are living on the breadline, then how much extra if you have kids to drag with you or do you lock them in the house unsupervised like some do. Contax

9:37pm Sun 6 Jan 13

bonkers2010 says...

kids under five go free and older children go to school all week contax . and if you do your shopping in wycombe you do the council on the same day . therefore making one trip if you shop online you pay a delivery cost anyway of £4 pound or more so whats the difference in spending it on the bus fare . if your on benefits you can get help with the cost of travel
see article in bucks free
A MONTH of free bus travel is on offer to jobseekers in Buckinghamshire to help them in their bid to find work.

Known as "Bus for Jobs", the scheme is a national collaboration between Job Centre Plus and Greener Journeys (an independent alliance between bus companies to encourage bus usage
kids under five go free and older children go to school all week contax . and if you do your shopping in wycombe you do the council on the same day . therefore making one trip if you shop online you pay a delivery cost anyway of £4 pound or more so whats the difference in spending it on the bus fare . if your on benefits you can get help with the cost of travel see article in bucks free A MONTH of free bus travel is on offer to jobseekers in Buckinghamshire to help them in their bid to find work. Known as "Bus for Jobs", the scheme is a national collaboration between Job Centre Plus and Greener Journeys (an independent alliance between bus companies to encourage bus usage bonkers2010

9:50pm Sun 6 Jan 13

bonkers2010 says...

i was on a low income then i got whats know as a job for 16 hrs a week if you have been on jobseekers or income support for 26 weeks or more . and if you apply and get work before march . you will be entitled to 4 weeks extra full housing and council tax benefit , you will get £250 job grant and £40 a week on top of your wages for 52 weeks if you stay in work for 16 hrs or more .. you get working tax credits and 75% of your child care cost paid . so really there is no excuse to be on a low income . unless you have an illness or disbility in which case you would get dla mobility and a free yearly bus pass x
i was on a low income then i got whats know as a job for 16 hrs a week if you have been on jobseekers or income support for 26 weeks or more . and if you apply and get work before march . you will be entitled to 4 weeks extra full housing and council tax benefit , you will get £250 job grant and £40 a week on top of your wages for 52 weeks if you stay in work for 16 hrs or more .. you get working tax credits and 75% of your child care cost paid . so really there is no excuse to be on a low income . unless you have an illness or disbility in which case you would get dla mobility and a free yearly bus pass x bonkers2010

10:19pm Sun 6 Jan 13

sleepingbeauty says...

I have to say living in a block of flats now owned by Red Kite they have done more in 12 months than the council did in the 5 years prior to that.
Now if they can save money in order to continue these improvements that are improving the living quality of those on benefits and those who are not.
It's money we'll spent and the improvements which have improved safety for the young and old far outweigh a once in a blue moon bus journey!
They do have phones and my previous experience has been they are more than willing to phone you back if needed so why waste the time and travel!
I have to say living in a block of flats now owned by Red Kite they have done more in 12 months than the council did in the 5 years prior to that. Now if they can save money in order to continue these improvements that are improving the living quality of those on benefits and those who are not. It's money we'll spent and the improvements which have improved safety for the young and old far outweigh a once in a blue moon bus journey! They do have phones and my previous experience has been they are more than willing to phone you back if needed so why waste the time and travel! sleepingbeauty

10:28pm Sun 6 Jan 13

ImpeturbableLawrence says...

This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here.

Ah – bless!
[italic] [quote] This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here. [/quote][/italic] Ah – bless! ImpeturbableLawrence

1:41am Mon 7 Jan 13

ImpeturbableLawrence says...

'Our very own' - bless!
'Our very own' - bless! ImpeturbableLawrence

1:42am Mon 7 Jan 13

ImpeturbableLawrence says...

When he meets his first girlfriend he'll be EVER so excited!
When he meets his first girlfriend he'll be EVER so excited! ImpeturbableLawrence

1:43am Mon 7 Jan 13

ImpeturbableLawrence says...

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here.

Ah – bless!
This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here.


Why did James Nadal leave off the exclamation mark at the end of it?
[quote][p][bold]ImpeturbableLawrence[/bold] wrote: [italic] [quote] This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here. [/quote][/italic] Ah – bless![/p][/quote][italic] [quote] This is a really exciting time for us. We always said that we would move out from the council’s offices into our very own building and now we’re finally here. [/quote][/italic] Why did James Nadal leave off the exclamation mark at the end of it? ImpeturbableLawrence

12:46pm Mon 7 Jan 13

washondo says...

How can the rent paid be "commercially confidential" when the contract is terminated?
What's to be done with the vacated space? Town Council offices perhaps?
How can the rent paid be "commercially confidential" when the contract is terminated? What's to be done with the vacated space? Town Council offices perhaps? washondo

1:31pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Voyeur says...

How often do tenants need to visit the Red Kite offices anyway? Applying for a house can be done online or at the council chambers, paying rent can be done by cheque or card or direct debit, or over the phone, etc. The Red Kite officials will usually come to visit you at home if necessary. It would appear there is hardly any need to physically visit the offices at all.
How often do tenants need to visit the Red Kite offices anyway? Applying for a house can be done online or at the council chambers, paying rent can be done by cheque or card or direct debit, or over the phone, etc. The Red Kite officials will usually come to visit you at home if necessary. It would appear there is hardly any need to physically visit the offices at all. Voyeur

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