The Options Suite established by Irwell Valley Housing Association on the Haughton Green Estate in Tameside has picked up a coveted industry award.
The news was announced last night at the National Housing Federation gala dinner awards ceremony, hosted this year by TV presenter Trisha Goddard. The Options Suite on Lancaster Rd is a one-stop showroom for Irwell Valley residents where they can make choices about their home improvements – anything from the style of their front door to kitchen
cabinets and the colour of their bathroom tiles. Easy to use interactive technology developed by virtual specialists 3D Web Technologies enables customers to visualise their choices at the click of a button.
The Neighbourhood Awards acknowledge housing associations that are making their local community a better place to live and tenants across the country selected the Options Suite for the Customer Frontline Award for its first class customer service.
Irwell Valley took over management of the Haughton Green Estate from Manchester City Council in September 2005 with a multi million pound investment programme and is already ahead of schedule with the majority of houses entirely refurbished with full rewire and central heating, UPVC double glazed windows, new external doors and kitchen and bathroom, intruder alarms and other security features.
The Options Suite service includes taking residents through the entire improvement programme, schedule of works and customer service care options. A massive regeneration programme to improve private and public spaces is also well underway and earlier this year TV presenter Fred Talbot opened the newly landscaped Tatton Rd park area.
Commenting on last night’s success, Irwell Valley’s Assistant Chief Executive, Neil Baumber said:
“ We’re delighted that innovative technology has been successfully used to give residents a true shopping experience from consultation through to delivery and we intend to continue exploring imaginative solutions to improve customer service ”
Earlier this year, Irwell Valley was listed in the Financial Times Top 50 Best Workplaces and in The Guardian’s Top Employers 2007.
September 21 2007