Housing provider hails hundreds of new builds

NEARLY 600 affordable homes were built across Devon last year as part of housing association LiveWest’s plans to spend £2billion in the local economy over the next decade.

As the largest housing provider in the South West, LiveWest has 15,317 homes in Devon and currently owns more than 37,000 homes across the region.

The housing association has stepped up its investment in the county after building 583 new homes, with 205 in East Devon, 95 in North Devon, 73 in Mid Devon, 68 in South Hams, 62 in Exeter, 44 in Plymouth, 25 in Torridge and 11 in Teignbridge.

Among them were 29 affordable homes built at Tithe Barn, Exeter, and 28 homes completed in both Pinhoe and Williand and 27 in Braunton.

And the organisation says more plans in the pipeline. A partnership between LiveWest and Vistry Partnerships will deliver 678 new homes in South West Exeter, while work has already started to build 380 new homes on a 23-acre site at Pinhoe Quarry in the city.

LiveWest has also teamed up with Vistry Partnership to build 398 new homes in Tavistock, including homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and outright sale at The Tors.

LiveWest’s chief executive Paul Crawford said the association’s financial figures “provide the springboard for us to continue with our ambitious growth strategy”.

“We have had another year of strong progress and remain in good shape to continue our plans to build desperately-needed affordable homes in Devon,” he said.

He added: “Behind 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.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, we use our surplus to reinvest in our homes and communities, and to build more affordable housing in Devon. The operating surplus we have recorded is already being reinvested into building much-needed homes across the region.

“We are also keeping up momentum with the investment in our existing properties, having spent £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 sustained efforts to meet our customers’ needs are highlighted with an 89% satisfaction rate.”

Mr Crawford said the pandemic had had an impact. “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.”

We remain in good shape to continue plans to build desperately-needed affordable homes

PAUL CRAWFORD, LIVEWEST