Mayor announces latest multi-million-pound social housing investment 

West Midlands mayor Richard Parker is to invest £2.6m to drive forward the construction of 108 affordable new homes in Warwickshire – the latest in a stream of developments aimed at easing the region’s housing crisis. 

The funding will see the former General Electric Power Conversion UK site in Projects Drive, Rugby regenerated for housing including 72 social rent properties – the most affordable type of housing.  

The announcement is the latest to be made by the Mayor as part of his mission to see 2,000 new social homes built every year across the region by 2028. 

The mayor (pictured) said: “Everyone deserves a safe, warm place to call home, but we’re facing a housing crisis because of years of chronic underinvestment in social and affordable homes. 

“This has left too many families stuck in temporary accommodation or poor-quality private rents. 

“That’s not acceptable, which is why I’m committed to building the genuinely affordable homes our communities so badly need. 

“Projects Drive is the latest example from a new wave of investment I’m making to tackle this problem. And it’s not only delivering essential homes but also helping to regenerate the local area and providing work and training opportunities – supporting my mission to get 93,000 people into quality jobs over the next decade.” 

The £26m, six-acre development is also being backed by Homes England and will feature a mix of apartments, maisonettes and houses.  

The scheme is being built by Morro Partnerships on behalf of not-for-profit housing provider, Orbit. The development comprises of 72 social rent properties and 36 homes which will be made available for shared ownership. 

It is also expected to play a key role in the regeneration of a nearby housing estate in Hollowell Way, Brownsover which has been earmarked for demolition and redevelopment by Orbit.

The Projects Drive scheme offers an opportunity to rehouse some of Orbit’s existing customers from the Hollowell Way estate. 

Projects Drive will also see Morro create a number of new jobs and construction apprenticeships with recruitment focused from within a 20-mile radius of the scheme. 

The developer will work with local recruitment partners, colleges, education providers and third sector organisations to open up the training and job opportunities for hard-to-reach people such as care leavers and ex-forces personnel.