A LEADING provider of social housing in Worcestershire has received a pat on the back for the quality of its building improvements.

Construction and maintenance work carried out by Festival Housing, which manages 8,000 homes from its main offices in Malvern and Droitwich, has been given charter Client status by the Confederation of Construction Clients.

To receive the award, the firm needed to fulfil a number of criteria in its plans to improve property it had purchased.

These included:

Teamwork, or bringing together all the groups involved;

Using sustainable materials;

Seeking feedback on performance.

"We have put together a five-year plan to make progress in all these areas," said Albert Higgins, head of property with the group, which includes the Elgar and Spa Housing Associations among its members.

"Each year we will be measured against our targets to ensure we continue to reach the necessary standards.

"Being awarded the status is good news for Festival, its contractors and, most importantly, our tenants because it means the quality of our building work will be continually improved."