Southampton City Council – Asset Management Strategic Review

Southampton City Council manages a diverse portfolio, from council housing to commercial property. But with housing and corporate assets handled together, competing priorities had begun to blur accountability.

Following external reviews from the Regulator of Social Housing, the Council needed to reassess its approach and determine the best way forward.

Getting the full picture

Before considering a new structure, our property consultancy team took a broader look at the Council's asset management.

We spoke to 17 people across the business and ran discovery sessions covering responsibilities, service delivery, compliance, costs and performance. Teams shared what worked, where pressures existed and how different services interacted.

We combined these insights with benchmarking and governance analysis to pinpoint where change was needed most.

Finding the right model

The review identified ways to clarify accountability, reduce duplication and better align priorities across housing and corporate assets.

From seven high-level options, we shortlisted three structures, testing each against operational and regulatory requirements, resident outcomes and available resources to find the strongest fit.

With the model agreed, we then developed the governance frameworks, draft service level agreements and business case to put it into practice.

Clarity where it matters

Our recommended model sets out ownership across SCC's housing portfolio. It gives teams a more joined-up way of working, with the skills and expertise needed clearly defined.

Any additional roles are introduced only where there is an identified need or regulatory requirement, keeping the structure proportionate to available resources. It also has the flexibility to adapt to future local government reform.

Our practical, scalable structure brings definition where it matters, while leaving room for the service to evolve.