Wakefield District Housing (WDH), which manages over 32,000 homes across the north of England, has partnered with Landmark Information to improve the management and insight for its expanding asset portfolio by capitalising on intelligent location data and advanced mapping services.
By working with Landmark Information, WDH is able to gain access to a wealth of Ordnance Survey MasterMap, Address Point, raster and Land Registry ownership data. The geospatial data underpins the housing provider’s web-based mapping service that is accessed by hundreds of users across the organisation. The data is used not only to support the team’s asset management requirements but enhances analysis and reporting.
Fraser Lumb, GIS Analyst at Wakefield District Housing, said
“As one of the largest housing providers in the country, using high quality, rich data to effectively manage our assets is vital. We awarded the geospatial data contract to Landmark Information as they are far more than just a data provider; instead they are committed to working in partnership with WDH to truly understand our needs and to fully support us in making the most of the data to deliver efficiencies and cost savings to the organisation.
Landmark is able to take us to another level of data analysis, for example enabling us to cross-reference our stock list with the address database, apply a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) for every property and essentially streamline the way we’re working. I can immediately see where we own land, view non-developed land, I can drill down to codepoints, polygons or undertake postcode level analysis to conduct deprivation assessments, price-paid assessments, as well as produce data for internal studies looking at arrears, claims analysis and similar – and all within our preferred CadCorp GIS platform.
We can look at granular details to manage costs more effectively. For example, with our grounds maintenance or tree management contracts, I can confidently map our requirements to ensure we get best value for money from our contractors. It’s very powerful.”
With annual new-build targets in place, WDH is now providing data intelligence to its Commercial Land Ownership Team, which provides its surveyors with information relating to ownership, site plans, development planning applications, as well as digital information on an area’s local plan, utilities data and environmental constraints.
Concludes Fraser Lumb:
“I am very happy with the service I receive, and I am impressed by Landmark’s level of expertise; they understand our needs, are supportive and collaborate with us. Plus as a registered charity that provides a public service, we need to demonstrate good value for money, which I’m pleased to say has also been satisfied by working with Landmark.”
Alex Wrottesley, managing director of Landmark Information (Geodata), said
“Housing providers have a vast estate of assets to manage, and being able to use geospatial data to do this saves a great deal of time, resources and money. We are delighted to be supporting Wakefield District Housing in making data work for them in the management of existing assets, as well as helping them reach their growth targets as they look to expand their portfolio over the coming years.”
Landmark Information has an extensive wealth of data that is used across the property industry, every day, by developers, property lawyers, environmental consultants, estate agents, surveyors, architects and planners to help in confident decision-making and in transactions.