Leeds architect becomes link in new £750m innovation chain framework

Leeds-based Brewster Bye Architects has been selected from over 720 bids by nationwide suppliers, contractors and consultants to become part of a new housing framework responsible for £750m worth of building works planned for the north of England over the next four years.

Brewster Bye is one of just 17 consultants chosen for the new Innovation Chain North (ICN) framework in the West region, and one of 15 in the East region. The ICN is led by Great Places Housing Group. The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) compliant framework has been designed to provide a route to the supply chain supporting organisations looking to deliver mixed use housing and associated social infrastructure across the north of England.

Brewster Bye was selected due to its technical competence, price and commitment to social value. Helen Spencer, Great Places’ Director of Development, explained: “We were delighted to have such a huge response from the market and received high quality proposals and substantial social value pledges for our communities. The new framework will ensure we and our peer organisations have tried and tested partners to help us to deliver our extensive development programmes and also help our collective ambitions to tackle the housing crisis.

“We are delighted to be working with Brewster Bye Architects on our new ICN framework. We are now looking forward to mobilising the framework and working together with them on several new projects.”

Nathan Wilkinson, a director from Brewster Bye said: “Despite working across all sectors, we have established an unrivalled reputation for our work in affordable housing in recent years and now boast a vast portfolio of successful projects throughout the UK that we have delivered alongside leading housing associations, construction firms and public sector organisations. One such successful scheme is the conversion of the Former Our Lady’s Primary School site in Acomb York for Yorkshire Housing.

“We were previously on the original Innovation Chain North West Framework and are pleased to be on the revised ICN, which has expanded its geographical area to include the North East and Yorkshire. In 2019 we designed over 1,000 affordable homes and have been selected for numerous other frameworks including those led by HomeGroup, Leeds Federated Housing Association, Housing 21, Places for People, Sanctuary Housing Group, ICNW, and Reallies, which is part of EN:Procure.

“The ICN framework included a very detailed tender process and we were able to showcase a wide range of key design values that we put into our affordable housing schemes which result in the creation of high quality, individual and innovative homes that help to foster a real sense of community.”

Joanne Whitehead, Great Places’ Procurement and Performance Manager, said: “We received a large number of high quality bids and we now have an excellent group of contractors and consultants covering a wide range of disciplines to support our housing delivery ambitions. Great Places and the other housing providers who access the framework look forward to working with Brewster Bye in the future.”