WoCom housing corporation entered into a long-term six-year partnership with our portfolio company Van der Meijs, and Ballast Nedam Zuid and Caspar de Haan. The joining of forces is aimed at making WoCom’s housing stock more sustainable. It involves an investment of over €50 million in social housing, spread across the municipalities of Asten, Cranendonck, Heeze-Leende, Helmond, Laarbeek, and Someren.
WoCom is also committed to making its existing housing stock of over 8,500 social rental homes more sustainable by making energy improvements. “To achieve this even faster, we need to scale up, work differently, and think bigger,” says Anke Nieuwland, real estate manager at the housing corporation. “After a careful selection process, we chose three permanent partners for this purpose. Until 2030, with Van der Meijs, Ballast Nedam Zuid and Caspar de Haan, we have reliable suppliers who have extensive knowledge to further develop sustainability together at fair prices. This cooperation offers us continuity, faster lead times, manageability of budgets and more peace of mind.”
The chain partners take on the entire sustainability project, from preparation to aftercare, including social supervision during implementation. Until now, each project was tendered individually to different parties.
Integral approach
Gerard Dinnessen, general manager at Caspar de Haan, on the new cooperation: “Every day we work to create sustainable, comfortable homes. We signed on to make 1,600 of woCom’s existing homes more sustainable in the coming years.” Van der Meijs is also happy to put their experience to work with woCom, resident representatives and the other two chain partners to ensure that affordable and energy-efficient home for residents. “Precisely because of that integral approach in which the resident is central,” stresses director Geert van der Meijs. “Together we are building progress and future-proof living, where attention to the residents is paramount,” Harko Kloeze, managing director at Ballast Nedam Zuid, adds. “We are looking forward to a fine chain cooperation, because by learning from each other, you become stronger together.”
Importance of tenants
To ensure the integrity of the selection process, it was led by an external, independent consultancy, with a representative of the tenants’ organizations constantly keeping the interests of the tenants in mind. This tenant representative was closely involved in the decision-making process and consistently kept the interests of the tenants in mind. “That input was invaluable in every decision,” Anke points out. “Because the wishes and satisfaction of residents are important for the success of the energy transition. We are structurally involving residents in making their homes more sustainable.”
