A COMMUNITY-based housing association operating in the Northwest of Glasgow has received a funding boost from Royal Bank of Scotland totalling a near £25m to improve and maintain its current homes, whilst making progress towards net zero goals.
This latest deal comes as Royal Bank of Scotland, part of NatWest Group, unveiled a £5 billion lending package to bolster the UK social housing sector over the next three years.
Maryhill Housing Association has been a staple of the Maryhill and Ruchill areas for nearly fifty years, operating over 3,100 properties including tenements, retirement housing and multi-storey apartments. Maryhill Housing Association will utilise the Royal Bank of Scotland funding to improve quality of life for residents by delivering improvements and maintenance projects.
Maryhill Housing Association (MHA) will use this funding to invest in its homes’ energy efficiency, replacing old storage heaters in over 600 homes with new high heat retention technology, reducing running costs and allowing tenants to be less susceptible to fluctuating energy bills.
With Glasgow setting ambitious targets of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2045, the work will help the city to deliver on its green goals. Playing it’s part further, Maryhill Housing Association has also committed to working with external associations to develop an affordable warmth and net zero strategy this year.
The funding will also be used to grow the portfolio of energy efficient properties under MHA management with sixteen new homes to be built and provided for social rent on Smeaton Street in the Ruchill area of Glasgow, due for delivery in summer 2024. With a focus on family housing, the association are hoping to enable better lives for residents through the provision high-quality, well maintained housing.
Bryony Willet, Chief Executive at Maryhill Housing Association, said: “To create strong and thriving communities, we need to provide more than just homes, we need to support our customers’ wellbeing and the long-term interests of our communities in a range of ways. One such focus is our sustainability projects to provide our tenants with the most efficient and effective solutions available, contributing to a greener Scotland.
“Funding from Royal Bank of Scotland is invaluable in allowing us to refurbish more homes quicker, and create new builds that are not only fit for service, but fit for building a life in.”
Alan Newlands, Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, added: “As a part of Royal Bank of Scotland’s commitment to invest £5bn to tackle the housing crisis, we wanted to support Maryhill Housing Association in its continual strive to improve the efficiency of its homes for its tenants.
“Both retrofitting and new construction are crucial in tackling the pertinent issues in the housing sector within Scotland and we are keen to help registered social landlords tackles such issues.
“Together with Maryhill we have built a strong relationship dating back to 2003, and over that time we have seen the investment and care they put into projects to help its customers. We are excited to see how they continue to renovate and innovate within the communities in which they operate.”
