17 March 2010

Spectrum secures £16m for west midlands developments

Spectrum Development Partnership, a consortium of ten west midlands affordable housing providers led by West Mercia Housing Group, has been granted £8.5m from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for a development in Perryfields, Bromsgrove, and £7.2m for a development in Essington, South Staffordshire.

The Bromsgrove-based scheme will be part funded and delivered by Spectrum members bdht and West Mercia Housing Group. Bromsgrove District Council is also providing £700,000 towards the total cost of the £16 million development of 158 new family homes. The start-on-site is expected in spring this year.

The second scheme to receive HCA funding is a rural development of 66 independent flexible care apartments for the over 55’s and 35 family homes in Essington. The £13.5m development will be delivered and is part funded by Housing Plus.

Kathryn Robb, head of partnership development at Spectrum Development Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have secured this money from the HCA at a time when available funding is reducing and are proud to be involved in building much needed new homes in the west midlands. We are committed to using our skills to delivering these developments on schedule and to a high standard, ensuring we provide homes where people are happy and proud to live now and in the future.”

These schemes add to the consortium’s existing development programme which has already delivered 1,000 new homes in the west midlands. This successful track record has been achieved thanks to the combined strength and experience of the consortium’s members.

Paul Spooner, regional director for the HCA, said: “The HCA is committed to working with Spectrum Development Partnership and West Mercia Housing Group to invest in the region’s communities and provide people with affordable homes in places they want to live. We are delighted that our investment is enabling the consortium to push forward and deliver much-needed homes and extra care in the region.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Spectrum Development Partnership was established in 2007. It is a partnership of ten housing organisations led by West Mercia Housing Group. The partnership includes Advance Housing Association, Bromsgrove District Housing Trust, Housing Plus, Heantun Housing Association, Herefordshire Housing, Nehemiah UCHA, Severnside Housing, Stafford and Rural Homes and Solihull Community Housing.

Between them the partners:

· Own and manage 60,000 homes across the West Midlands

· Have a development programme in excess of £175m

· Will deliver 1,000 new affordable homes each year

· Are active in 23 local authority areas in the West Midlands region

· Have over 1,800 staff.

West Mercia Housing Group is an investment partner with the Homes and Communities Agency.

www.spectrumdevelopmentpartnership.co.uk

For further information please contact Val Hunt or Nikki Cheung, at The Bridge Group, on 024 7656 0440, or v.hunt@bridge-group.co.uk