At the launch of our 2022-27 Strategic Plan, we committed to producing more regular updates to publicise how, with your help, we are transforming homes, lives and communities for our customers across East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and North-West Leicestershire.
We hope these quarterly updates below summarise the projects we continue to deliver to our customers and communities at a time when our support has never been so needed and, indeed, welcomed.
To receive our quarterly ezine directly to your inbox, please email communications@trentanddove.org and use the subject line 'Stakeholder update'.
I hope you’ve had a good summer and that the second half of 2025 is shaping up well.
At Trent & Dove, we’ve continued to focus on delivering high-quality homes and services, with several exciting developments and partnerships coming to fruition. In this edition, we’re pleased to share the official opening of Eager Close, a new scheme in Winshill named in honour of local champion Carol Eager, and the reappointment of Novus Property Solutions to deliver our Externals and Communal Works Programme from 2025 to 2030.
We also celebrated Volunteers’ Week in June, highlighting the inspiring journey of David, whose life has been transformed through volunteering. And during Rural Housing Week, we proudly supported national efforts to champion affordable housing in rural communities, including our partnership with Support Staffordshire. Read more about all these initiatives in the articles below.
We’re currently planning our Stakeholder Summit to take place on Monday 3 November 2025, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, at the Pirelli Stadium. The event will include presentations, engagement sessions and a Q&A focused on our work, development plans and partnership opportunities. Further details and invites will follow soon.
I hope you find this update useful and look forward to connecting with many of you in the months ahead.
Ursula Bennion
Chief Executive
Impact on the Community Awards 2026
Preparations for our new-look Impact on the Community Awards are well underway with the sponsorship opportunities going live in September.
Sponsorship packages will be available to suit a range of businesses from £500 up to £10,000.
The awards ceremony will be held in May 2026 at the Burton Albion Pirelli Stadium, as in previous years.
Trent & Dove proudly supported Rural Housing Week 2025 this July, with CEO Ursula Bennion and Development Director Charlie Riley attending events hosted by the National Housing Federation, of which Trent & Dove is a member.
The week highlighted the importance of affordable housing in rural communities and the unique challenges these areas face.
A key feature of this year’s campaign was a powerful animation that tackles common myths about rural housing and showcases the benefits it brings to communities.
You can watch it below:
To further support the cause, Trent & Dove has partnered with Support Staffordshire to address misconceptions around rural housebuilding and to highlight the positive impact it has on local communities.
This collaboration focuses on engaging parish councils, conducting Housing Need surveys, and empowering villages to shape development that meets real local needs.
Trent & Dove manages affordable housing across rural areas in all three of our local authority areas of East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire. But delivering homes in these locations is challenging.
Nationally, only 9% of rural development is affordable, compared to 17% in urban areas, as highlighted in the report ‘There’s a Will - Here’s the Way’ - produced by Trent & Dove and Rural Housing Solutions.
During Volunteers’ Week in June, Trent & Dove celebrated the incredible contributions of our volunteers, who gave over 6,000 hours to support local communities over the past year.
David and Angie Among them was David, 50 (pictured above with Volunteer Angie), whose story is a powerful example of how volunteering can transform lives.
After years of struggling with anxiety and depression, David took a courageous step in 2023 by connecting with Support Staffordshire’s Volunteering for All programme. This led him to Trent & Dove, where volunteering helped rebuild his confidence and sense of purpose.
Martyn Hale, Operations Director, said: “Our volunteers don’t just strengthen communities — they change lives, including their own.”
Development update: progress, partnerships and pipeline
We continue to make strong progress across our development and sales programme, with a robust pipeline of homes and a clear focus on delivering for our communities.
For the financial year 2024/25, we completed 93 homes and started 70 new ones – just shy of our ambitious targets. We aim to complete 150 homes and start 236 during 2025–26, with our key scheme Tyldesley Court near completion.
We’re also responding to national policy shifts. Government consultations on planning reform, infrastructure delivery and construction product safety are shaping the future landscape. Our team is actively engaging with these changes to ensure we remain agile and aligned with best practice.
On the funding front, our strategic partnerships with Orbit continue to bear fruit. To date, we’ve secured 343 homes with 250 more in the pipeline. Notably, we’ve submitted bids for 297 homes under the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme top-up, with 76% of these earmarked for social rent.
Regeneration remains a priority. Projects at Vancouver Drive, Main Street and Highwood Court are progressing, with our partner, Agile Homes, exploring innovative modern methods of construction solutions for our Horninglow and Stretton garage sites.
Despite economic headwinds and planning challenges, our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable homes remains unwavering.
Building on success: Novus reappointed for 2025–2030 improvement works
We’re pleased to announce that we’ve reappointed Novus Property Solutions to deliver our Externals and Communal Works Programme from 2025 to 2030, following a robust procurement process involving our customers.
Novus Colleague Building on the contract Novus has delivered over the past five years, this investment in our homes and communities will bring real benefits to our customers living in our social housing, sheltered schemes and supported housing properties.
The programme covers key improvements including new roof coverings, window and door replacements, wall repairs and upgrades to communal areas. It also includes potential environmental enhancements and energy efficiency works to help reduce energy bills and improve comfort.
Eager Close opens in tribute to local champion
Trent & Dove proudly marked the official opening of Eager Close, a new housing development in Winshill, designed for residents aged 55 and over. The scheme provides 16 high-quality homes, offering comfort, security, and independence for older members of the community.
Named in honour of Carol Eager, a much-loved local figure and passionate community advocate, the development reflects her legacy of care and commitment to Winshill. Carol’s family joined Trent & Dove colleagues, local councillors, and residents for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the occasion.
Eager Close is more than just a name — it’s a tribute to someone who made a lasting impact. The homes have been thoughtfully designed to support wellbeing and community connection, helping residents live well and age well.
This development is part of Trent & Dove’s ongoing mission to provide homes and services that enable people and communities to thrive.
Refer a colleague to receive this update
We hope these updates keep you informed and summarise the projects we continue to deliver to our customers and communities in line with our commitment to transforming homes, lives and communities.
If you’d like to recommend a colleague, supplier or partner who you believe would benefit from receiving this, please ask them to email: communications@trentanddove.org and we’ll add them to our distribution list.
