About us

Old Ford Housing Association was set up in 1998 as the successor to the Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust. In 2005 Old Ford Housing Association became part of the Circle Group.

Our mission is to enhance the life chances of our residents and customers by providing great homes and quality services, and by helping to build sustainable communities in the places that we operate.

We are one of 12 partners within the Circle Group. Being part of a larger group means that we have greater financial security and greater influence to achieve better deals with suppliers, enabling us to deliver better value for money. Although we are part of a wider group we still retain our local approach, and run our services to meet the needs of our residents.

History of Old Ford:

Old Ford was created in 1998 through a partnership between the residents of the Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust and Circle 33. Old Ford became part of the Circle Group in 2005 after Circle 33 merged with South Anglia to create the Circle Group.

Since 1998 our housing stock has increased from 1,000 homes to 4,580 homes. This increase is the result of our commitment to continue to build new homes, and also as a result of a number of stock transfers:

In 1998 the first new homes were developed on the Tredegar, Lefevre and Monteith estates in Bow.
In 2007 Old Ford successfully took transfer of approximately 2500 homes on the Parkside estates in Bow. Since then Old Ford have invested £55 million to bring these properties up to and beyond the Decent Homes Standard.
In August 2007 Old Ford took over the management of the Circle 33 housing stock in Tower Hamlets.
In April 2008 Old Ford took over the management of approximately 500 homes at Orchard Village in Dagenham (formerly known as the Mardyke estate). Old Ford have invested in an £80 million regeneration programme for the area.
In 2011 Old Ford delivered 334 new family homes on the new St Andrews development in Bow, and 44 new homes on the new Caspian Wharf development in Bromley-By-Bow. A further 43 new homes at Caspian Wharf are due to be handed over in 2012.
In April 2012 Old Ford took over the management from Circle 33 of dispersed housing stock in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Regeneration:

Old Ford Housing Association prides itself on the great work we are doing to regenerate homes and communities. We are currently undertaking two large-scale regeneration programmes:

Parkside: as part of our transfer promises we are currently delivering a £55 million refurbishment programme on the Parkside estates to bring the homes up to and beyond the Decent Homes Standard. Please click here for more information on the programme.

Orchard Village: we have invested £80million on a regeneration programme for Orchard Village in Dagenham (formerly the Mardyke estate). The programme will see the redevelopment the area and the building of 550 new homes. The programme is currently underway. To date we have developed the first 121 new homes for residents, and are on track for phase 2 of the programme. Please click here for more information on the programme.

Developing sustainable communities:

Central to everything Old Ford Housing Association does is Enhancing Life Chances for our residents, and key to this is our highly regarded and award winning community development service. This service has grown significantly over the last few years as a result of its success. Our well-resourced team work in partnership with a variety of key agencies in Bow and Havering to develop and deliver a range of services and activities that meet the needs of the local community. To find out more about our Community Development Programme at Old Ford please click here.