Network tops list for development grant

Network Housing Group has shot to the top of the list of 195 associations that have won traditional one-year development funding from the Housing Corporation – beating bigger developers such as Peabody, Notting Hill and Places for People.

The associations missed out on winning one of 71 lucrative corporation "development contracts" (see HT 26 March, page 7).

The list, seen exclusively by Housing Today, also shows that as many as six associations that last year received less than £3m in development grant are in the top 20 of "traditional" developers for the next two years.

Neil Hadden, the corporation's assistant chief executive for investment and regeneration, said this could be explained by associations putting in "very competitive bids" and by supported housing landlords, such as Hanover and Housing 21, meeting increased supported housing requirements from the regional housing boards.

The list, which is published in full on www.housing-today.co.uk, covers allocations for individual schemes in the next two years.

As part of its biggest programme in recent years, the corporation will spend £673m on 12,669 new homes and on 3000 refurbishments.

This will be in addition to the £2.64bn split between 71 associations that are to receive "development contracts" to build 54,973 homes over two years.

Danny Friedman, the National Housing Federation's policy director, said the average unit cost of the traditional list was £41,000, compared to £48,000 for the partners, reflecting highly competitive bids.

Mark Denyer, assistant director of development at Network, said: "We are delighted with the allocation. We have a new team in place over the past year and, although we have an amber light for development, we have been working closely with the corporation to boost our completions last year by 100 more than planned. This is a reward for that."