The North West’s largest housing provider has announced the law firms appointed to its £6.48 million legal services framework.

Torus procured the framework last year marking its first major procurement exercise conducted under the Procurement Act 2023.

The four-year framework, which runs from 2026 to 2030, will support Torus’ ongoing development, corporate and housing management activities by providing access to specialist external legal expertise, in addition to its in-house legal team.

Spanning five lots, it expands on a previous framework in order to support Torus’ increasing needs as it embarks on a substantial growth strategy that will see a significant uplift in the number of new homes it builds beyond the 1,000 a year it currently delivers.

Following evaluation, 11 law firms have been appointed to the framework:

Lot one: development and specialist property transactions

• Brabners
• Capsticks
• Penningtons Manches Cooper
• Sharratts (London)
• Weightmans
• Ward Hadaway

Lot two: sales and routine property transactions

• Brabners
• Capsticks
• Forbes Solicitors
• Sharratts (London)
• Weightmans
• Ward Hadaway

Lot three: corporate and finance

• Anthony Collins Solicitors

• Brabners

• Capsticks

• Devonshires

• Forbes Solicitors

• Pennington Manches Cooper

Lot four: employment and human resources

• Anthony Collins Solicitors
• Capsticks
• Weightmans

Lot five: housing management

• Brabners
• Capsticks
• Clarke Willmott
• Shakespeare Martineau

Alongside legal expertise, appointed firms will deliver measurable social value outcomes aligned to Torus’ mission of growing stronger communities.

Torus Group Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said:

“Expanding our framework reflects the ambition of our growth strategy that will require significantly more legal support and expertise.

“A key part of this growth is tackling the housing shortage in our communities and this will be addressed with our new housebuilding programme where we are looking to gain Strategic Partner Plus status with Homes England.

“The response, quality and quantity of tenders received to the legal framework was excellent with some existing law firms retained and new companies added.

“We are really pleased to welcome everyone on board as they play an intrinsic role as key partners helping us delivery crucial services to our tenants and communities.”

Torus held a day-long launch event on Friday 6 February to welcome those appointed, give presentations for each lot to introduce future work requirements as well as relationship-building with a university open day style event so people could get to know each other.