NEW HOUSING ASSOCIATION OFFICE HUB NAMED FOR VISIONARY FIRST CHIEF EXECUTIVE

A leading Norfolk housing association has opened a new office hub in Horsham St Faith – and named it after the organisation’s first chief executive, who took the organisation from its first scheme in Norwich to 1,700 affordable homes by the time he retired in 1991.

Martin Miller House is one of a number of office hubs being opened by Broadland Housing Association to replace its offices at Carrow Road, which it will vacate this month.  The new offices, housed in a former Norse depot, provide modern office accommodation, along with meeting rooms and breakout areas.

Martin Miller’s three daughters Alexandra Atherton, Charlotte Crawley and Louise Moore attended an opening ceremony for the offices, along with Broadland Housing chair Jenny Watson and chief executive Michael Newey.

Jenny Watson said, “As long as people speak about you, you live on in the world, and people still speak very highly about Martin.  He left such a legacy, and it’s very appropriate that we were able to name this building after him.”

Current Broadland chief executive Michael Newey said, “Broadland owes Martin a huge debt of gratitude.  We will always be grateful for the homes he facilitated and brought into use, for his persistence, and for the foundations he laid for Broadland Housing, which we are still building on today.

“We remember him with gratitude for his service, for his kindness, for his steadiness and for his huge contribution.”

Mr Miller’s daughter Alexandra Atherton added, “Dad loved working at Broadland, and it’s wonderful to see that so many of his core beliefs still stand today.

“Home was an integral part of dad’s life, so the mission of providing good quality, affordable homes for as many people as possible was close to his heart.”

Martin Miller

Born in Norwich, Martin Miller began his working life in the city’s shoe trade.  Subsequently working for Edward Skipper Architects, he recognised that the provision of social housing was changing, and became the first chief executive of Broadland Housing Association.

Believing that a secure home is the foundation of life, he established a lasting commitment to building the affordable homes that communities need – a principle which continues to shape Broadland Housing today.

He led some of Broadland’s most significant and enduring developments, including its first at Shipfield in Norwich, the purchase of The Cedars in Albermarle Road which continues to be one of the association’s most popular sheltered housing schemes, as well as championing tenant representation on the association’s Board.

As chief executive, he guided the organisation’s growth from its first scheme to 1,700 homes across Norfolk by the time he retired in 1991.  Even in retirement his commitment never faded, and he remained a loyal supporter of the housing association until his death in 2022, aged 95.