Wythenshawe Community Housing Group Secures £127.5m NatWest Funding for South Manchester Social Housing Development
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (WCHG) has successfully secured a £127.5m funding deal with NatWest to support its ambitious social housing projects in South Manchester.
WCHG is the largest community landlord in Manchester, providing over 14,000 homes to more than 29,000 people in the Greater Manchester region. The housing group’s portfolio is predominantly located in areas like Wythenshawe and equates to 20% of all social housing in Manchester.
Operating with a business head and a social heart, the new funding deal will address key sector issues related to stock condition including fire safety, energy efficiency, damp, mould, and condensation. In addition, this investment will be utilised to enhance the condition of WCHG’s existing housing stock and to propel the organisation’s new development goals.
This initiative aligns with WCHG’s commitment to maintaining high-quality housing standards while delivering significant new-build developments.
Commenting on the deal, Simon Morris, Executive Director of Finance at WCHG, said: “This funding from NatWest will enable us to invest further in our existing stock and realise our new development ambitions, ensuring we continue to meet the housing needs of our tenants.
“Access to good quality, affordable housing in Manchester is crucial, and this investment will empower us to tackle pressing issues, fostering a thriving community in Wythenshawe, supporting people to build successful lives and ultimately making a real difference for the people we serve.”
Reflecting on the partnership, Martin Skinner, Relationship Manager at NatWest, added: “WCHG’s dedication to improving housing conditions and developing new homes in South Manchester is clear in everything they do, and we are pleased to play a role in helping to address the critical needs of the local community.
“We believe in the power of strong communities and are excited to see the positive impact this funding will have. Supporting social housing projects like this not only benefits the local economy, but it also aligns with NatWest’s commitment to fostering regional economic growth across the UK and underpins its commitment to the Social Housing sector.”
As a socially-led business, WCHG delivers numerous benefits to the people of Wythenshawe through a social value strategy that places local communities at the heart of decision-making and helps to build a bright future for residents. This is achieved through job creation with 91% of employees living locally in Manchester as well as partnerships with local foodbanks, education and skills development programmes and commitments to reduce the business’ environmental impact.
