Social housing expansion planned for Crewe (From Crewe Guardian)

Social housing expansion planned for Crewe

7:00am Sunday 3rd March 2013 in News By Matthew Taylor

Hundreds of new social houses will be built in Crewe during the next two years

HUNDREDS of new social houses will be built in Crewe during the next two years to make up for a shortfall in affordable homes.

330 new houses will be developed before 2015, after affordable housing provider, Wulvern, received millions of pounds in loans and grant funding.

The Homes and Communities Agency has given Wulvern £3.8 million, on top of £4.3 million grant they gave in 2011.

Royal Bank of Scotland have lent and extra £18 million, £10 million of which comes from the Government’s Funding for Lending Scheme.

Wulvern chief executive, Sue Lock, said: “This is an extremely important and exciting achievement for Wulvern as this will enable us to provide around 330 new, much needed homes for our customers by March 2015.

“It also demonstrates the confidence that our funders and the HCA have in the way that Wulvern is investing its money and managing the financial health of the organisation.”

Rent increase in Wulvern’s homes will be £3.31 per week.

More than 70 per cent of Wulvern’s tenants are in receipt of housing benefit, which will undergo sweeping changes from April.

The charity’s Healthy, Wealthy and Wise project has helped people in the area reclaim over £4 million in benefits that they are entitled to.

Sue Lock said Wulvern would guide tennats through the changes And invest in support and advice services and partnerships with charities, the council and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Wulvern manage more than 5,200 homes throughout Crewe, Nantwich and surrounding villages, employing 240 people.