No. 53/04

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 regeneration scheme providing new housing in Loughborough.

Speaking at the National Housing Federation annual conference in Birmingham, Mr Rouse singled out Grand Union Gardens by Derwent Living, as being a particularly good example of the type of scheme to be regenerated using Corporation money.

Mr Rouse said: "Derwent Living is to be congratulated for this scheme, which meets all of the Housing Corporation's objectives for affordable housing and has been instrumental in delivering much-needed new homes to Loughborough.

"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."

Grand Union Gardens, on the site of an old industrial works near the centre of Loughborough has done much to regenerate the adjacent stretch of the Grand Union Canal. With the first phase completed in 2001, this year has seen postgraduate student accommodation added. The scheme also provides a community centre for the local Bangladeshi population.

As part of the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme over the next two years, the east Midlands will receive a total of £126.5 million to provide 3,900 new homes.

For more information please contact Gillian Watson, Head of Communications 020 7393 2095; email gillian.watson@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk or Robert Davies on 020 7393 2227; email robert.davies@housingcorp.gsx.gov.uk.
Notes to Editors

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.