05/11/2007   D16/07   Downland

Downland completes over 400 new homes

Downland Housing Association had one of its best ever years with the completion of over 400 new homes in the year ended 31 March 2007 adding to its 11,000 homes throughout 39 local authorities from Hampshire to Kent.

Downland chief executive Mark Perry said:” Developing good quality, sustainable, new housing is a key focus as we deliver our largest development programme to date of 840 new homes supported by some £38 million Housing Corporation grant funding through 2006/08.

“This expansion has not come at the expense of customer services and during the year Downland recorded an 80% customer satisfaction level with underlying services improving. With over 91% of our homes meeting the Government’s Decent Homes Standard, we invested £9 million in our residents’ homes on the things that they said mattered.”

During the year BHT (formerly Brighton Housing Trust) joined Downland as a subsidiary. BHT’s 158 general needs properties have been transferred to Downland, enabling BHT to concentrate on its specialist services to homeless and insecurely housed, vulnerable men and women.

Mark Perry said: “With a seven per cent increase in turnover and property assets valued at some £0.5 billion, we are growing in size and experience while maintaining a pedigree of good, local service.”

More information on our performance during the year can be found in our Affinity Sutton Group annual review under Publications.

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