HABINTEG Housing Association has secured an additional £20 million funding facility from Ulster Bank to support plans to deliver new social housing-led projects in Derry and Belfast.
The projects include a £12m scheme of 73 apartments at Duke Street in the Waterside area of Derry and a £6m development with 31 units at Beersbridge Road in Belfast.
In addition to new housing, the financial package is supporting Habinteg to reinvest in existing homes, including an asset-wide programme of energy efficiency measures to support the association’s decarbonisation targets.
Ulster Bank relationship director Richard Lusty said: “New housing investment is a significant stimulant for the local economy. In addition to providing much-needed homes, it creates and sustains employment opportunities within the construction sector – and right throughout the supply chain.
“Housing-led regeneration also helps to establish sustainable, vibrant and connected communities. The benefits of housing investment are far-reaching and long-lasting, and this is why we’re very pleased to increase our support for the important work Habinteg is delivering across Northern Ireland.”
The new facilities provided by the bank are in addition to an existing £20m financial package, bringing the bank’s total support for Habinteg to more than £40m.
Habinteg will blend this private sector funding with grants from the Department for Communities to help deliver the Social Housing Development Programme throughout Northern Ireland.
Habinteg chief executive Darren McKinney said: “We strive to provide high quality, accessible, and affordable homes to enrich the communities in which we operate. This further investment in Belfast and the north west will provide much needed homes for families, the elderly and those with additional needs.
“As we look forward to a net zero world, we are prioritising sustainability in terms of our new build projects, which are built to the highest standards, and our existing portfolio with a commitment to improving the efficiency of all our homes.”
Last year Habinteg launched its three-year environmental & sustainability strategy, which aims to reduce its carbon footprint across its operations, including its new offices in Laganwood House on Newforge Lane, and its housing portfolio with ambitious targets.
