No. 50/04

Press Release: Thursday 23 September 2004

Jon Rouse, Chief Executive of the Housing Corporation which will invest £3.3 billion in affordable new homes over the next two years, yesterday praised a Nottingham based housing development.

Speaking at the National Housing Federation annual conference in Birmingham, Mr Rouse singled out Raleigh House and Portland Square by Metropolitan Housing Trust as being a particularly good example of the type of scheme to be built using Corporation money.

Mr Rouse said: "Metropolitan HT are to be congratulated for this scheme, which meets all of the Housing Corporation's objectives for affordable housing. As well as providing a regional HQ for Metropolitan, it has been instrumental in delivering much-needed new homes to the city of Nottingham.

"The Government's commitment to maximising the provision of affordable homes has been embraced by the 2,000 individual housing associations who are delivering real achievements on the ground, not just in terms of newly built homes but also via a host of people-centred community initiatives."

Raleigh House and Portland Square, originally home to Raleigh cycles in 1896 have helped to regenerate Alferton Road in the Nottingham New Deal for Communities area. The scheme provides flats for low cost home ownership and outright sale, as well as a new HQ for Metropolitan in the Midlands.

As part of the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme over the next two years, the East Midlands will receive a total of £126.4 million to provide 3,800 new homes.

For more information please contact Robert Davies on 020 7393 2227; email robert.davies@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk. or Paul Wellings, Group Communications Manager, Metropolitan Housing Trust Group on 020 8829 8144; email: Paul.Wellings@mht.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for regulating and investing in over 2,000 housing associations in England. Its biggest ever investment programme of £3.3 billion for 2004-06 will fund over 67,000 affordable homes. 16,000 of these will go to key workers and 25% will use some form of modern methods of construction.

2. "Working with residents for better homes and stronger communities", Metropolitan Housing Trust Group was founded 41 years ago. In 2004 it received the largest single housing fund allocation from the Housing Corporation to maintain its position as one of the largest developing social landlords in the country. The Group was established in 1963 when Metropolitan Housing Trust (MHT) was registered as a charitable housing association under the Industrial and Provident Society Acts. The Group is one of the fastest growing housing associations providing good quality, affordable homes to those most in need of quality housing and works to create strong communities. MHT Group owns and/or manages 21,000 homes. In partnership with other housing associations, MHT is currently regenerating 4 estates containing another 7,000 homes. MHT Group includes Metropolitan Housing Trust, Metropolitan Home Ownership, Metropolitan Living Limited, Refugee Housing Association, Social Investment Foundation, StepForward and Rushcliffe Homes. MHT group includes MHT which has charitable status.