Leading North West housing associations Progress Housing Group and Onward Homes are working in partnership to deliver 3,208 affordable homes across the North West region.
Last week, the Government announced that Onward Homes has been successful in its bid for Strategic Partnership status with Homes England, securing a grant of £152m from the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP). Progress Housing Group will deliver 600 homes within the programme, with 250 of these due to commence on site before April next year.
The grant will support the Group’s delivery of 1,000 new homes in the five years up to March 2024 with significant ongoing growth after that, as well as contributing to their first large, new-build, extra care scheme in Lancaster of 92 homes.
The Group also has significant growth ambitions outside of the AHP programme, with plans to build around 150 supported living units per annum, after recently confirming that Reside Housing Association will join the Group in Autumn 2021. The combined organisation has set itself the goal of becoming the leading provider of supported living accommodation, particularly for people with a learning disability or autism, in the country.
To support achieving these growth ambitions, the Group has recently secured £150m in additional long-term funding.
Director of Development at Progress Housing Group, Daniel Griffiths (pictured above), said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with Onward Homes to provide 600 affordable homes across the North West, allowing us to positively contribute to our communities. This AHP grant supports our significant future growth ambitions to build new homes for those who need them most.
“We are now keen to start delivering – with 250 homes due to commence onsite during the current financial year.
“We have existing development partners that support our delivery, but we are always happy to hear from new potential partners that can assist us with future development programmes.”
Executive Director of Property at Onward Homes, Sandy Livingstone, commented: “We are ready to get building. Around half of the land pipeline needed to deliver the homes supported by the AHP grant is already in place. Now we are seeking new partners and opportunities across the region to turn these big numbers into real homes for customers.”
Onward Homes’ Chief Executive, Bronwen Rapley, added: “Onward continues to build its capacity to make a positive impact in lives and communities. The grant award follows our first successful bond issue to provide a secure financial basis for our plans to build 500 homes a year. We are also preparing extensive investment in our current portfolio to provide all of our customers with safe, green and secure homes.”
