Leading housing provider, LiveWest, has posted a strong financial performance this year after investing 拢167m in building new homes as part of its plans to spend 拢2billion in the local economy over the next 10 years. As the largest housing association in the South West, LiveWest currently manages 37,384 homes across the region.
These figures have laid solid foundations for LiveWest to build a further 15,000 homes over the next 10 years. The company鈥檚 investment plans will sustain 7,000 jobs in the building and supply chain, protecting livelihoods and offering fresh opportunities.
Over the past year, LiveWest has built 1,245 homes across the South West, which sees it rise from 14th to ninth for housing completions of the top 50 housing associations in the 海角视频. The company has built 1,158 new homes for rent and shared ownership, 33% more than the previous year, along with 87 for the open market.
LiveWest鈥檚 Chief Executive Paul Crawford said: 鈥淲e鈥檝e had another year of strong progress and remain in good shape for the future. Our financial figures provide the springboard for us to continue with our ambitious growth strategy where the focus of our development programme is very much on providing desperately needed affordable homes across the South West.
鈥淏ehind our financial and development figures is the story of how LiveWest has put social purpose, the quality of the homes we develop, health and safety and the needs of our customers at the heart of everything we do.鈥
Investing in communities to build affordable housing
鈥淎s a not-for-profit organisation, we use our surplus to reinvest in our homes and communities and to build more affordable housing. The operating surplus we have recorded is already being reinvested into building much-needed homes across the region. We are also keeping up the momentum with the investment in our existing properties having spent 拢57m in maintaining and improving homes for our current customers. This will ensure that our homes remain great places to live, as well as protecting our investment for the future. Deepening our customer relationships is pivotal for LiveWest and our sustained efforts to meet our customers鈥 needs are highlighted with an 89% satisfaction rate.
鈥淚n reflecting on the year鈥檚 achievements and challenges, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the unprecedented events that unfolded in the last quarter of the year associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. We have understandably had to adapt with pace in how we work to ensure that we continue to invest in our existing homes and places, improve services for customers and keep building new genuinely affordable homes in these exceptionally challenging circumstances.鈥
Additional funding to deliver 2,775 new homes
LiveWest鈥檚 growth ambitions have been further accelerated thanks to the Homes England Strategic Partnership agreement having received, in conjunction with partner Sovereign Housing, additional funding to deliver 2,775 new homes by March 2025. The extra funding is part of the government鈥檚 strategy to ensure 300,000 new homes are built year on year until 2025.
Mr Crawford added: 鈥淭he total funding of 拢136m has allowed us to focus in greater detail on strengthening our landbank to ensure we have sufficient opportunities secured to meet our funding obligations and ambitious growth plans. It means we can accelerate our existing development pipeline, look for new opportunities and utilise our relationships with private developers to increase affordable homes across the region.鈥
LiveWest completed 139 new homes in Cornwall, 583 in Devon, 133 in Somerset and 264 in the West of England as well as 39 additional homes outside its geography.
As well as building new homes, LiveWest has also invested 拢2m in a wide range of community investment activities as part of its drive to build to focus on the social fabric that makes communities successful.
LiveWest is one of the region鈥檚 largest employers with 1,446 skilled and enthusiastic staff and welcomed 23 apprentices across the company in the last year.
To find out more about homes available to buy and rent through LiveWest or for housing advice and support, head to the website
