Our History
Oak Tree Housing Association Ltd was formed in April 2001 as a result of the merger of Bow Farm Housing Association and James Watt Housing Association. Victoria Housing Association then joined the new organisation at the end of June 2001.
The three associations chose to come together primarily to create an organisation which is stronger than the sum of its parts and that will have an effective long-term future.
Oak Tree Housing Association is very performance orientated with Service Delivery as its main focus. We are committed to involving tenants and residents in our decision-making processes.
Our Stock
The Association owns and manages approximately 1760 houses throughout Inverclyde and factors or provides services for a further 900 owner occupiers.
Over the past 22 years the Association has undertaken more than 53 development projects. The total investment brought into inverclyde for all projects is £109m. We have developed a variety of tenures. Most of our development (75%) has been for social rented housing. However, the development programme has also provided accommodation for low cost home ownership and outright sale on a shared equity basis.
We have been involved in refurbishment, conversion, newbuild and demolition. Past achievements include the refurbishment of 54 closes in the West Station and Town Centre areas of Greenock. our new build properties account for 57% of the Associations total development programme. We have, over the years, provided a healthy mix of flats and cottages.
We have built a number of special needs facilities and these have helped people with learning disabilities to live a healthy life in the local community rather than remain in hospital care. The Association built a Woman's Aid Refuge and this has been a great asset for the community in helping to address domestic abuse issues.
The regeneration of previously designated Social Inclusion Partnership areas had been the main focus of the Associations development activities in recent years. Development of these areas placed much emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency and community involvement. New housing provided in Branchton, Wren Road and Grieve Road is a credit to Association and our development partners. This helped to provide sustainable energy efficient affordable homes for 240 tenants and homeowners.
Development activity is now closely linked with current local authority and government priorities for housing in Inverclyde. The latest project to be completed by the Association was a 40 unit newbuild flatted development at the corner of Robertson Street and Finnart Street in Greenock. On site at present is a 14 unit development at Earnhill Road in Greenock.
Our wider action involvement was also significant in the development of a community centre in the Branchton Social Inclusion Partnership area.
Communication has been the key to our success and the Association would like to thank all of the stakeholders who have been involved in our projects. Their commitment is paramount and we will continue to involve them in all aspects of our future development activities.
Our Management Committee
The Association is managed by a Committee of Management of 15 members and operates currently through four sub-committees as follows:
Board of Management
Development & Technical Sub-Commitee
Housing Services Sub-Commitee
Finance, Staffing and General Purposes Sub-Committee
Internal Audit Sub-Committee
The Sub-Committees, meet on a quarterly basis.
At present the Association is not selling staff services but historically has sold development, finance and maintenance services and may well decide to do so again.
Our Service
Our service is delivered from our office located in the town centre.
We currently hold a B grading as a legacy of performance audit visits in Bow Farm and James Watt in late 1999 and 2000. Our July 2009 regulatory statement produced by The Scottish Housing Regulator, confirms that The Scottish Housing Regulator will have “ low engagement “ with us.
Locally we are active members of Inverclyde Housing Associations’ Forum, a forum of locally established Associations.
The Association holds membership with the S.F.H.A., S.H.A.R.E, and T.P.A.S. and are currently striving to introduce a Best Practice regime through all departments.
Expectations of our tenants and service users are high and the Committee of Management anticipate a continuous improvement in service delivery and hope to continue the growth and development of the Association.