My RHA
Thank you Alistair
10th December 2020 | posted in News
Alistair Brown experienced a lot during his 9 years as a Railway Housing Association Board Member and admits it’s difficult to single out a particular highlight.
But when pressed, he says the number of new homes that were built during his tenure is probably his proudest moment.
Since Alistair came on the board in 2011, we have invested millions of pounds completing new homes in Spennymoor, Hull and Darlington.
The last couple of years in particular have been one of our busiest development periods, including our flagship scheme in Darlington which resulted in 73 homes being built close to the historic Stockton to Darlington railway line. This include the sympathetic conversion of a listed engine shed built in 1844.
Alistair says: “It’s been fantastic to have been involved with the Association during a time of so much development and it’s even more impressive that this has been able to happen despite less financial support being available for housing associations.
“If you look at the homes we build, they don’t fit the perception many people have of social housing and very much reflect our heritage.
“We saw that at The Sidings in Darlington and we will see that again when we complete our new development in Bishop Auckland which will include the conversion of the old King James School building which Stan Laurel once attended.
“These are homes where people are rightfully proud to live and which enhance local communities.
“But we have also continued investing in our older properties and maintained high levels of customer satisfaction, which have all combined to make us a landlord of choice.”
Alistair, who is an accountant working for the Department of Work and Pensions in Newcastle, believes the current Railway Housing Association Board is one of the strongest he has been involved with and says he is sad to have left, having completed the maximum 9 years permitted under governance rules.
He adds: “The Board is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds, skills and experience, so this means we approached things from different angles.
“It was always very robust, and we weren’t afraid of challenging each other, but we were able to work through solutions and make decisions collaboratively.
“I have learned so much being on the Board and I will miss it, but I feel very lucky and privileged to have been able to serve an organisation like Railway Housing Association.”
