Member Article

KHT invests £11.3m in improving homes and community facilities

Knowsley Housing Trust, part of the First Ark Group, is investing £11.3 million in an improvement programme to both maintain and upgrade the homes and facilities of its tenants.

A calendar of maintenance activity to enhance the high standards already achieved by Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) encompasses work on new properties and the improvement of existing facilities for both tenants and the community.

Major works, which will be conducted as part of the programme, include the use of over £1 million to refurbish tenants’ kitchens and bathrooms, along with a cash injection of over £700,000 into adapting facilities for disabled use.

Amongst many other scheduled works, KHT also plans to revamp communal areas, install CCTV, provide greater insulation and improve the current heating systems at many properties.

Ian Thomson, executive director at KHT, said: “This schedule of investment and improvement activity demonstrates our commitment to investing in the local community and the homes of KHT tenants in Merseyside, enabling us to make Knowsley a truly great place to live.

“We care about our tenants and want to use this money to make a real difference to their quality of living, which is why funds will be used to upgrade the facilities available to the entire neighbourhood, particularly in the transformation of community centre fixtures and fittings.

“As part of its commitment to the local economy, KHT will work with local partners to complete the work, providing employment opportunities and building great links with businesses in the area.”

The investment and improvement programme will be conducted throughout 2014 and into 2015.

This announcement follows the news that KHT’s affordable housing development at Penman Crescent in Halewood has been named one of the UK’s best by Inside Housing, a leading industry body.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .