Wakefield and District Housing’s 350+ Solus Citroen LCV deal
As part of a four year, complete fleet replacement programme, Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) is now taking delivery of the first vehicles from an order of more than 350 Citroen Nemo, Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay LCVs. This major Citroen LCV order has been placed as part of WDH’s on-going process to reduce its carbon footprint while increasing its fleet efficiency and reducing the overall size of its fleet.
During the next four years, WDH is planning to reduce its fleet size by up to 15 per cent. As part of this move to boost overall fleet efficiency, WDH is replacing its current Ford LCV fleet, which was acquired through a mix of leasing, contract hire and outright purchase, with fuel efficient, low emission Citroen LCVs.
Supplied by Citroen dealer Springfield Citroen in Gateshead, the Citroen LCVs are being operated on Lombard 48 month, 10,000 mile per year, with maintenance contract hire agreements. WDH will take delivery of some 217 Citroen LCVs in 2010, followed by a further 130 in 2011, some 40+ in 2012 and a smaller, unspecified number in 2013 as required to meet fleet requirements.
Paul Clarke, WDH Supplies Manager explains; “Citroen LCVs delivered the financial and environmental performance benefits that WDH required.” Rick Young, WDH Fleet Manager, adds: “WDH is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and continuing to improve operational efficiency. Citroen LCVs have some of the cleanest and most fuel efficient engines available, which together with their low whole life cost, were key considerations in our selection process. Also, the four strong Citroen LCV range provides greater operational flexibility enabling WDH’s trades people to select the vehicle that best matches their working requirements.”
The Citroen Nemo vans specified by WDH will be used by its supervisors and Berlingo, Dispatch and Relay LCVs will be used by its trades people. As part of WDH’s policy, each van user picks the Citroen LCV that provides the optimum space and carrying capacity, and each van is racked and equipped to meet individual staff requirements.
Robert Handyside, Citroen’s Commercial Vehicle Operations Manager, comments: “This major WDH order reflects the benefits of Citroen’s versatile, low emissions, fuel efficient approach to the LCV sector. Across the board, Citroen offers an unrivalled choice of low whole life cost, green business transport solutions.”
WDH is responsible for some 31,000+ homes within the Wakefield area. It is one of the top five housing associations in England and has its own, unique housing standard - the Wakefield Standard. This provides its tenants with housing to a higher standard than that laid down by the national “decent homes” standard.