No. 35/04

Press Release: 4 August 2004

NORTH WEST RECEIVES £400K INNOVATION AND GOOD PRACTICE CASH BOOST

The north west of England will benefit from a £393,090 cash windfall as part of a package of grants to encourage innovation and good practice in housing, announced today by the Housing Corporation.

A total of 10 projects, nine of which are designed to encourage residents to have a greater say in how their neighbourhoods are run and managed, will receive between £4,000 and £138,000 each.

The largest single grant of £138,000 goes to the Sefton Pathfinder area in order to establish a neighbourhood regeneration company.

Elsewhere, there is £15,000 for the establishment of a model for developing brownfield land; a further £15,000 for a democratic North West tenants' and residents' assembly; and £40,000 for the creation and management of a programme of arts projects designed to add an extra dimension to RSL engagement in Merseyside.

Housing Corporation chief executive, Jon Rouse, said: "Our Investment and Good Practice programme, and particularly the Community Training and Enabling element, delivers much-needed funds to meet local priorities. This is real cash, going direct to real people who are engaged in initiatives which benefit entire communities.

"Over the years, our IGP programme has funded a raft of pioneering projects, many of which have subsequently paved the way as examples of best practice within the sector. I am delighted that the package we are announcing today will ensure that this good work continues."

The Corporation is also implementing a number of wide-ranging changes to the IGP programme to better reflect central and regional Government priorities. The IGP programme was launched in 1995 and has funded over 2000 projects to date, to the tune of £75m

ends

For more information contact Gillian Watson on 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:

1. The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for regulating and investing in over 2,000 housing associations in England. It is changing the face of affordable homes, creating strong communities that are exciting places to live and work. Its biggest ever investment programe of £3.3 billion for 2004-06 will fund over 67,000 affordable homes. The North West will receive more than £250 million for 4,946 new affordable homes.