Improving the delivery of social housing in UK- using the Amphion initiative as a case study

Amphion Consortium was formed with the membership of 50 Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) as an initiative in implementing the Egan agenda (1998) which championed the use of Key performance indicators (KPI's) and the setting of benchmarks as the mechanism for achieving radical change in the construction industry. This project used this opportunity to develop, monitor and record the performance of 15 housing development projects which accounts for approximately 300 house units. Relevant KPIs, benchmarks, a data collection and site monitoring system were developed. A range of questionnaires were developed and data collection was executed in three stages which closely mirrored the construction project phases. Detailed interviews with key project personnel, examination of site meeting notes and general feed back reviews were undertaken to identify good and bad practices associated with each project. The turbulent path followed by Amphion and their contractors illustrate how the strategic roles played by key players in the housing industry have a substantial effect on the construction process. Communication, co-ordination and long term partnering which lead to continuous improvement of services and products emerge as some of the key drivers for the successful delivery of quality social housing which meet both the time and cost targets.