Anthony Collins Solicitors appointed to Platform Housing Group legal services framework

• Social purpose law firm to advise Platform Housing Group on property, housing management, and corporate and finance

• The Platform Housing Group is a leading housing association in the Midlands

• The association aims to expand availability of affordable homes across the Midlands

Birmingham-based law firm Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) has been appointed to the Platform Housing Group legal services framework: property, housing management, and corporate and finance. The contract, commencing in January 2022, will run for a period of four years.

Platform Housing Group – which owns 46,000 homes in total – completed 1,448 homes in 2019/20 (1,598 in 2018/19) at an investment of £258m (£228m in 2018/19). The Group also built more social rented homes – at a figure of 981 – during the past 2 years in England than any other provider, 523 in 2019/20, almost 33% of the total homes built. 

Platform Housing Group’s operating area is from Herefordshire in the West to the Lincolnshire coast in the East, and from the Derbyshire Dales in the North to the Cotswolds in the South. 

Throughout the duration of its contract with the Group, ACS will provide legal counsel and support on areas such as social housing finance, corporate and governance, dispute, construction and commercial contracts.

Specialist ACS legal teams will be led by Jonathan Cox, housing partner at the social purpose law firm. Jonathan has over 25 years’ experience in the sector and has worked on a number of landmark social housing projects, enabling the delivery of sustainable and affordable housing.

Nathan Barson, procurement director at Platform Housing Group said:

“It is great to see our new Category Management function using the tools and techniques to deliver such high quality work; not only have we successfully mapped our complex requirements but we have managed to secure commercially robust agreements with some of the country’s leading law firms.   

“We have added value, successfully matched our ambitions to the leading players in the market and ensured we have the partnerships in place for a truly modern housing association.”

Jonathan Cox, partner at ACS, commented:

“We are proud to have been appointed to the Platform Housing Group legal services framework and look forward to working closely with the association and other law firms appointed to this panel. 

“ACS is a purpose-driven law firm with its unique and clear mission of improving lives, communities and society and we look forward to ensuring that Platform Housing Group achieves the best outcomes for its organisations and members.”