The announcement – just before the first anniversary of the 81,000-home transfer – will be seen as a response to mounting criticism that GHA is failing to keep promises to Glasgow's tenants.
Described by GHA as the "biggest procurement process the housing world has seen for decades", the contracts include the supply of new kitchens and bathrooms, and environmental improvements. Builders are also needed to take charge of the association's new build and demolition programme.
The new contracts look set to dwarf the work already carried out by GHA. In its first year of operation the association began projects worth £80m, working on 12,000 homes.
The £750m contracts will fund the major part of GHA's 10-year programme to meet the Scottish housing standard, unveiled earlier this month (HT 6 February, page 9). GHA plans to spend £4bn on Glasgow's housing over the next 30 years.
John Jeffries, GHA's director of investment and regeneration, said: "We are offering contractors large volumes of work secure for several years. In return, we are looking for best value and a commitment to drive out the best possible result from every penny we spend.
£750m is a lot of money but it has to go a long way if we are to transform social renting
John Jeffries, GHA
"£750m is a lot of money but it has to go a long way if we are to achieve our aim of transforming social renting in Glasgow."
The announcement follows the controversial discovery earlier this month that GHA would end the financial year with a cash surplus thought to be in excess of £90m.
Critics cited the underspend as evidence that GHA's repairs and maintenance plans were slipping. But the money has been held over for inclusion in this year's spending pot.
Scrutiny of GHA will continue to be intense, however, given that more than £1.3bn of the public money was paid out in grants and to write off debts to make the transfer viable in the first instance.
Source
Housing Today
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