Member Article

Housing association invests £13.1m in first year

A Salford housing association has invested £13.1 million in the city’s housing in its first year of operation.

Today (Thursday, March 24) marks 12 months since Salix Homes launched as a stand-alone housing association after tenants voted to transfer ownership of more than 8,300 properties from Salford Council to Salix Homes.

In the past year, Salix Homes has invested £13.1million in improving homes and communities across the city, this includes fitting 680 new kitchens and bathrooms and bringing 900 properties up the Government’s Decent Homes standard.

It has also carried out 49,000 repairs, supported 210 people into work or training and let 700 homes to new tenants.

Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “When our tenants voted to transfer ownership of their homes to us, we promised a bright future for social housing in this great city and we are well on our way to delivering that.

“In just 12 months we have invested more than £13m improving homes, supported more than 200 people into work or training and have even launched our first new-home building project on the Beechfarm estate in Swinton.

“While we continue to go from strength to strength, the year has not been without its challenges, and our biggest challenge came on Boxing Day when more than 300 of our homes were hit by the devastating floods. While the recovery operation continues for those affected, it has been humbling to see the outpouring of support from the Salford community.”

Flagship investment projects now well underway include a £7million facelift at Mulberry, Magnolia and Sycamore Court tower blocks in the heart of the Pendleton regeneration area, and plans have been approved this month to build 161 new homes on the Beechfarm Estate in Swinton.

Earlier this year, Salix Homes also unveiled ambitious proposals to transform the disused homeless hostel Petrie Court in Charlestown into a state-of-the-art,flagship live-in training centre for young people – the first of its kind in Salford.

By 2020 Salix Homes will have invested £75m in improving homes and communities in Salford bringing every property up to the Government’s Decent Homes standard.

Mr Sugden added: “We set out our ambitious aims from the outset to not only deliver a first class housing service, but to improve lives and communities in Salford for the better, and while there is still work to do, thanks to our significant investment those promises are becoming a reality and we look forward to continuing on this journey to creating a housing service Salford can be proud of.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hayley Collins .