A key building block in Newcastle’s social housing revolution has been put in place – with the city council appointing a new director to lead the transformation project.
Vicky McDermott has been appointed as Newcastle City Council’s new Housing and Communities Director to oversee the biggest change to social housing in two decades.
The authority is in process of bringing social housing under its direct control, with their housing stock and associated services having been overseen by Your Homes Newcastle since 2004.
The transfer takes place at a time of changing regulations in the sector that place additional emphasis on the experiences of tenants and other service users engaged with providers.
Vicky McDermott joins the council from the Regulator of Social Housing having played a significant role in developing and implementing the new regulations.
Her appointment gives Newcastle City Council the opportunity to integrate housing within its core values and ambitions seen across its other services.
But it will also see Vicky leading a transformation project that will ultimately seek to improve the lives of tenants across the city – while empowering them to help influence change.
'Excellent experience and leadership'
Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council, said: “We’re on the cusp of the dawn of a new era for social housing in Newcastle.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring in a new director in Vicky who is so in tune with what is expected of housing providers.
“She will be able to help us deliver the best housing services for our residents and communities while driving our ambition to be a fair and inclusive city.
“People’s homes, and the support residents receive to find and maintain the right type of accommodation, is of the upmost importance.
“I’m looking forward to working with Vicky to ensure residents are at the heart of the city’s housing services as we undergo this huge transition, and that the city is in the heart of our residents.
“Vicky promises to bring excellent experience and leadership qualities that will help us make the most of having these services within our control, and most importantly, that we provide the best possible services we can to our residents.”
'A huge shift in how housing is delivered'
Vicky McDermott added: “The transfer of housing services represents a huge shift in how housing has been delivered in Newcastle, at a time of key regulatory changes as well.
“I’m looking forward be working in such an exciting and forward-thinking city to make sure housing services in Newcastle are of the best quality they can possibly be.
“We want to listen to tenants, understand how we can improve the service they receive and work together to deliver housing that allows residents to fulfil their potential.
“Newcastle City Council is an organisation with strongly-held values and a commitment to doing its absolute best by its residents and I’m excited to have the opportunity to play my part in that.”
Why changes are happening
YHN was set up as an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) in 2004 to access government funding to improve homes. They currently manage council homes and deliver housing and some other services on behalf of the council.
Changing regulations, financial challenges in the social housing sector and increasing demand for council houses prompted the council’s Cabinet to approve a decision to bring the services, and the people delivering them, in house in November 2023 in a process due to be completed this summer.
As Director of Housing and Communities, Vicky will be responsible for the council’s social housing and housing strategy while overseeing the new directorate made up of existing council and transferred YHN services.
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