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A consortium of 11 housing associations in the east Midlands and north-west England is giving small and medium-sized builders the chance to win spots on a 拢180m framework.

The group, called JV North, is offering a raft of contracts valued at under 拢1 million.

JV North, which comprises housing associations in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Nottingham and Preston, said it will create an unlimited list of suppliers through which their housing association members can tender opportunities for construction works.

Work will be divided into six areas: new build, refurbishment, modular build, disabled adaptations, supported housing and fire safety.

The deals are expected to run for four years from next month.

Last month, JV North announced the names of those who had booked a place on its framework for contracts worth 拢1m and over.

It includes contractors Kier, Wates, Galliford Try and Willmott Dixon while consultants include Savills and WYG.

Sean Stafford, who is director of Saffer Cooper, the consultant which is managing JV North鈥檚 development programme, said: 鈥淢any are put off by lengthy procurement processes or think the work is too big for them and will be taken by larger contractors.

鈥淭his is why we have split the four-year framework into two lots; one for works over 拢1 million and now one for works under 拢1 million.鈥�

JV North said it wants to build nearly 3,000 new homes for rent and ownership by 2021 under the government鈥檚 Shared Ownership Affordable Homes Programme.

The group said around 2,000 homes will be built under the framework.