Life in Salford 27 • November 2019 4
Great progress on housing
Key milestone for affordable homes Salford City Council’s new housing company Dérive has opened the door to its first 20 tenants. The two and three bedroom homes at Riverbank View, Charlestown were bought off plan from Keepmoat Homes to provide affordable homes for people in Salford. They are part of a 421 home scheme, a fifth of which (85) are affordable. Dérive has an option to buy another 22 homes at the final stage of development which is awaiting planning permission. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is fantastic news and I hope tenants have many happy years in their new community. These 20 affordable homes will not solve our national housing crisis, but we are doing all we can to help local people.” Councillor John Merry, a director of Dérive, said: “We started Dérive with £2 million of money from developers in the absence of any government support, to meet the needs of local people who are desperate for affordable homes.” Councillor Tracy Kelly, a Dérive director and lead member for housing and neighbourhoods, added: "Each year we have a shortfall of 613 affordable homes to meet current needs. Dérive is part of the solution to addressing that demand."
New Salford council homes Salford City Council will build 101 new council homes after securing £7.7 million grant funding from Homes England. The properties will all be available at social rent, starting at £74 per week for a one bed apartment and the build will provide local jobs and training opportunities. Work will start in spring next year and the homes will be ready in 2021, providing a mix of one and two bed apartments and two to four bedroomed houses. They will be built on brownfield, council-owned sites in Clifton, Seedley and Ordsall. The remainder of the scheme will be funded by £5.1 million of borrowing from the council's Housing Revenue Account after City Mayor Paul Dennett lobbied the government to lift borrowing restrictions. Mayor Dennett said: “These council homes are part of our plans which include Dérive and working with our housing partners. “We are exploring every avenue possible to increase supply, including bringing back into use empty homes, converting low demand commercial properties into residential homes in the city and building new homes.”
