25 years of putting roofs over heads

IAN Perry, chief executive of Harvest Housing Group, is celebrating 25 years in charge of the leading edge group of housing associations and associated companies.

He joined Harvest Housing in 1985 having previously worked in private practice and local government.

During the past 25 years Mr Perry, (60), from Uppermill, has helped to build Harvest into a pioneering housing group with a £75 million turnover, owning and managing 18,000 properties across the North-West and beyond.

The group, based at Apex House, Levenshulme, includes Manchester and District, Moorlands, Derwent and Solway, Frontis, Eaves Brook and Partington Housing Associations.

During his time at Harvest he has been a driving force in creating a group that is committed to providing affordable homes, community initiatives and regeneration services.

His transformational commitment to the Harvest Housing neighbourhoods and residents, and his focus on housing services are provided is an approach widely followed across the sector.

Some of Ian’s most significant achievements with Harvest have included developing the ground-breaking housing private finance initiative (PFI) with Grove Village in Manchester, helping deliver neighbourhood regeneration.

Ian also formed the first PFI for extra-care housing with Avantage, successfully developing quality accommodation for older people in Cheshire.

A married man with three children, Mr Perry, said: “These have been an eventful and challenging 25 years but the rewards have been amazing.

“I have worked, and still work with some fantastic people and what we do is tremendously rewarding.

“We have made significant improvements within our neighbourhoods but I do not believe in resting on my laurels.

“We are all still working to make a real difference in the communities we serve and we continue to develop and build on the improvements we have made. We are committed to developing affordable housing, safe and community focused neighbourhoods we can all be proud of in many years to come.”

He is chairman of a number of not-for-profit procurement, regeneration, housing-related property management and development companies including Grove Village PFI, Avantage PFI, Procure Plus and PHD developments.

Mr Perry also serves on several advisory panels to government agencies and as a qualified chartered surveyor he is also a member of the RICS management board.

As well as his professional success in the housing industry, he has been the honorary consul for the Netherlands in the North-West for five years, assisting Dutch nationals throughout the region.

A celebratory dinner was held at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, to recognise his services social housing.