News

Ian joins us following a successful three years as group chief executive at Thirteen Housing Group based in the North East and Yorkshire. He has a successful track-record working in the social housing, local government, regeneration and private property development sectors.

Our group chair Dennis Sleath, said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Ian’s calibre to Platform Housing Group. The newly created business is undergoing a period of significant change and Ian’s unique range of skills will ensure we move forward with confidence.  I have no doubt that his varied experience and proven leadership and organisational management qualities will be a real asset to us and that he will continue to drive forward the excellent work that has already been done.”

Ian Wardle said: “I am really proud and excited to be joining Platform Housing Group at such a challenging and exciting time in its development. The Group has a clear strategic vision and an ambitious development agenda that I am looking forward to working with the team to develop and deliver.”

Ian will take up the position in mid-April 2019 and takes over the leadership from our current group chief executive, David Pickering.

We are always on the look out for the best talent to come and join our team. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from everybody. You can find our jobs on the following pages:

Platform Housing Group

Waterloo Housing

Fortis Living

Waterloo Housing and Fortis Living are coming together to form Platform Housing Group.

The group will be one of the largest housing associations in the Midlands, with around 1,200 staff, over 120,000 customers and 45,000 homes from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South.

With an annual turnover of £231m, the new business promises to use its new found combined financial strength to have an even bigger impact in the local communities where they work.

The current Waterloo Housing Chief Executive David Pickering will lead the new organisation, with Fortis Living Chief Executive Guy Weston remaining in the business for the coming six months to help deliver a smooth transition.

Chief Executive David Pickering, said:

"The creation of Platform Housing Group is good news for our customers, for our colleagues and for our communities. As a larger, stronger business we will be better equipped to maximise efficiencies and to invest more in building more homes and improving local services."

Guy Weston, Fortis Living Chief Executive, said:

"The newly-shaped group builds on two strong track records of providing quality homes, services and community support. By coming together we can consolidate our resources and use our combined capacity to make a real and positive difference where it is most needed."

Platform Housing Group will have a combined development pipeline of over 18,000 homes over the next ten years, and will be able to build an extra 500 more homes a year across a range of tenures, than either organisation could have done separately.

The creation of the new group will cause no immediate change in day-to-day landlord activities, with both Waterloo Housing and Fortis Living continuing to operate as part of the Group.