Mercian Housing Association was established over 40 years ago as a not-for profit, social business formed for the benefit of the community to provide housing accommodation of a high standard to those on low incomes and in greatest need. Here are the key milestones which have made Mercian one of the most innovative housing associations in the West Midlands.
1964
Mercian Housing Society established [under the terms of the Housing Act 1964].
1974
Mercian Housing Society becomes Mercian Housing Association Limited, registered and funded by the Housing Corporation under the Housing Act 1974. A new Management Committee is appointed. Mercian’s aim is to provide good quality accommodation for those in greatest housing need.
1982
Mercian completes its first sheltered housing development – Hawthorne Court as the first project outside the core Fair Rent Housing provision.
1984
Mercian builds its first 13 homes for ‘Equity Sharing’ (Shared Ownership) aimed at first-time buyers and its first Leasehold Scheme for the Elderly in Maxwell Close, Lichfield.
1987
Mercian manages 800 units for rent and shared ownership and acquires new office premises in Erdington, Birmingham to accommodate future growth (current association’s head office).
Mercian also launched its important ‘Communities First’ programme covering a range of community initiatives and to ensure that tenants were involved in running of the association.
1988
Mercian embraces the ‘brave new world’ of raising private finance for new housing development under the Housing Act 1988.
1989
Mercian celebrates 25th anniversary with “Building a Better Future” theme highlighting its aspirations, experience, innovation and housing management skills.
Central Housing Partnership was developed with Birmingham City Council and four other Housing Associations.
1992
Introduction of tenant membership and tenant representation on Mercian’s Committee of Management giving tenants the opportunity to express their views and have a real say in the running of the association. Mercian currently has over 400 tenant and resident shareholders, an active Residents Forum and up to three tenant representatives on the Board of Management.
1996
Mercian becomes one of three founding partners of Castle Vale, Community Housing Association (CVCHA) formed by Castle Vale Housing Action Trust (CVHAT) and retains representation on the Board of CVCHA as well as being a major development partner of CVHAT on Castle Vale.
1997
Mercian completes work on over 400 new homes in one year making it one of the biggest housing association development programmes in the West Midlands.
1998
Expressing commitment to its staff development and their continuous training Mercian obtains Investors in People award.
1998 - 99
Mercian adopted a consortium approach to re-thinking the housing build addressing environmental and ecological considerations and social and lifestyle changes. Key principals were established for the design and provision of new social housing under the ‘ReInventing the Home’ initiative.
1999
Communities First Unit (CFU) launched in July 1999 to work at grass roots level with tenants and other groups to provide services that really benefit local people and their communities.
2000
Mercian becomes a Registered Charity. This important change in the status of the association brought tax benefits and confirmed and reinforced the organisation’s charitable purpose.Working in partnership with CVHAT, CVCHA and The Merlin Venture
(Community Development Trust) a team of tenant decorators were recruited. Fresh Start Decorators has become a self-sustaining business following initial help from Housing Corporation Innovation and Good Practice funding and the European Social Fund.
2002
Mercian’s award-winning Empty Homes programme reaches 200 homes being refurbished and brought back to use for people in housing need across the Midlands.
2003
Mercian acquires ART Homes Ltd, a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation providing affordable finance to low income home owners for the repair and maintenance of their homes. ART Homes extends Mercian’s service to support the financial inclusion of vulnerable home owners and to help local authorities achieve the Government’s Decent Homes standard for housing in their areas.
2004
Mercian celebrates its 40th anniversary of delivering quality homes for people in need and investing in communities people take pride in.
2006
Zenith Development Partnership Ltd, jointly established by Mercian and Trident Housing Association in 2003, becomes a fully owned subsidiary of Mercian with the aim of delivering a development programme of 200 new properties a year.
After six years of delivering the Government’s HomeBuy initiative and more than 20 years of developing for low-cost home ownership, Mercian becomes the key HomeBuy Agent in the West Midlands responsible to help access low cost home ownership for first-time buyers and key workers.
This major success for Mercian confirmed the association's strong reputation and commercial abilities to deliver a financially sound, excellent business with services that meet customers’ expectations.
Winner - Kick Start partnership with ART Homes Ltd - "Excellence in Delivering in mixed communities" (UK Housing Awards).
Winner - Kick Start partnership with ART Homes Ltd - "Outstanding Achievement in Social Housing in England" (UK HOusing Awards).
ART Homes extended activities into Merseyside and Edinburgh.
2007
2007 saw the first ever launch of a TV campaign to raise awareness of affordable housing. This was instigated and co-ordinated by Mercian Housing Association.
ART Homes extended activities into Camarthen.
2008
Mercian’s three offices move to one central location in Aston – Gee Business Centre.
Mercian win first prize for ‘Most Innovative Marketing Approach’ at the 2008 Affordable Home Ownership Awards.
Kick Start partnership extended to introduce private finance with HBOS.
2009
Following a Special General Meeting on 30th July 2009, where our Shareholders and Board members voted in favour of a formal partnership, and approval from our regulator the Tenants Services Authority (TSA), Mercian officially joined the Circle Anglia group on 1 October 2009. Read more.