Building housing on ethical foundations

A Scottish social housing organisation is providing 50 new homes, at affordable rents for tenants in need, helped by a loan from CAF Bank.

Established in 1992, Dunbritton Housing Association (DHA) provides affordable homes for people in housing need. A Registered Social Landlord (RSL), it serves the Argyll & Bute and West Dunbartonshire Council areas. Dunbritton’s housing stock ranges from general needs housing and larger family homes, to supported accommodation and properties adapted for special mobility needs.

Dunbritton owns nearly 800 properties, housing over 2,000 people. As well as providing much-needed homes for tenants who would otherwise struggle to find accommodation – for instance, through ill health, old age, disabilities or personal hardship – it also owns a women’s refuge.

FUNDING EXPANSION PLANS

The RSL’s mission is to deliver social housing at affordable rents, in safe and secure surroundings, which makes expansion a continual part of its programme. A loan of £2.2 million from CAF Bank will enable Dunbritton to build 50 new, high-quality affordable properties in areas of acute housing need.

The development’s first phase of 24 flats at Walker Place, East King Street in Helensburgh is complete. The remaining 26 homes will be built at Succoth in Argyll & Bute, with completion anticipated in 2017.

AFFORDABLE FINANCE

The viability and impact of new social housing schemes rests upon the price and availability of loan finance. Morven Short, Director of DHA, explains, “Being able to borrow funds at affordable interest rates enables us to provide more homes at affordable rents and this delivers social, economic, environmental and health benefits to the communities that we serve.”

VALUE OF PARTNERSHIP

Many housing associations recognise the benefits of building a close partnership with their lender. Dunbritton is no exception, as Morven confirms “All of our dealings with CAF Bank have been really positive. We would not hesitate to recommend that other associations consider the Bank as a reliable partner to develop their business.”

Sephton MacQuire, Chair of the Board of Management, adds, “On behalf of the Board I’d like to say that it gives us great pleasure to be able to meet the needs of local people and enable them to live where they want to be. Providing safe, affordable housing is the bedrock upon which we can build sustainable communities in the years ahead. Working with positive partners like CAF Bank makes developments like East King Street and Succoth possible and we would like to thank them for their positive contribution throughout this process”.

If your housing association has ambitions to develop new services, scale up capacity or diversify sources of income, call our charity loan experts now for a free consultation on 03000 123 444.

For more information on the types of loan finance available for charities, download this guide to repayable finance.