Press release

Lord Heseltine to officially open the new offices of South Northants Homes

The Right Honourable The Lord Heseltine CH PC has accepted an invitation from Northamptonshire-based social housing provider, South Northants Homes (SNH), to officially open its new offices at Wood Burcote House, Towcester on Friday 27 November 2009. SNH was set up in March 2008 to take the transfer of 2890 homes from South Northants Council and is investing £55 million pounds into regenerating and improving these homes.

The event begins at 10am, when Lord Heseltine is due to arrive at Wood Burcote House, where he will be met by Alan Humphreys, the Group Chief Executive of Grand Union Housing Group, Graham Smith, Chair of the SNH Board and Paul Calland, Managing Director of SNH.

Lord Heseltine, himself a keen gardener, will be introduced to SNH’s grounds maintenance team, including an apprentice, and shown how they have laid out the grounds outside the front of the building.  Two additional new apprentices, Dean and Joshua, who have been just employed by one of SNH’s key partners Mears Projects, part of the leading social housing repairs and maintenance provider, will also have the privilege of meeting Lord Heseltine.

Following this, Lord Heseltine will be given a tour of the SNH offices. He will unveil a plaque in the reception area to commemorate the occasion and will sign a canvas mounted photograph of a poppy field near Sulgrave that will be hung with pride in the SNH Boardroom. In appreciation of his kind acceptance of the invitation to open the offices, Lord Heseltine will be presented with a copy of the poppy picture, which forms part of a collection of beautiful local scenes that will also feature in the SNH tenant 2010 calendar. The set of stunning photographs were taken by staff and tenants of SNH.

Paul Calland, Managing Director of South Northants Homes said:

“We are delighted that Lord Heseltine has agreed to officially open our new offices. His status as a Member of the House of Lords, a former Deputy Prime Minister and his involvement with major regeneration initiatives, coupled with the fact he lives in South Northamptonshire, will certainly add credibility to the proceedings.”

SNH staff have been residing in their new home since July 2009, following a comprehensive refurbishment by contractor Rotunda Ltd, which transformed the former Connexions office into modern open plan offices.

Ends

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