BCHA are delighted to announce that we have secured a £10 million loan from Lloyds Banking Group to enable the delivery of up to 300 new affordable homes by 2029. At a time when Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) face some of the highest levels of homelessness outside London, this investment represents a vital step toward giving more people a safe, secure place to call home.
The funding comes as a result of the partnership between Lloyds Banking Group and Homewards, a programme from The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Homewards works with local partners in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and across the UK, to make homelessness, rare, brief and unrepeated. Announced last year, Lloyds are providing £50 million in new lending to support small and medium-sized housing providers and charities in Homewards locations. Many of these organisations currently face barriers in accessing finance to deliver housing projects. This pioneering partnership will ensure that, alongside new lending, the organisations will be supported with expertise to be ready for the new investment.
Nicola Haigh, Head of Real Estate & Housing, Lloyds Banking Group said “As a Homewards Activator, we’re proud to announce the first £10 million loan to BCHA as part of our broader £50 million commitment. By helping small, specialist providers like BCHA access finance, we can increase housing provision for those most in need and transform communities across the UK – building more homes and changing lives.”
The loan has already enabled BCHA to begin work on a planning application in the Bournemouth area to deliver around 30 new affordable self-contained homes for people that have, or are, experiencing homelessness.
Lorraine Mealings, CEO of BCHA said “The funding we secure from lenders is vital to enable additional affordable homes in the area. The loan from Lloyds is the product of some excellent partnership working across organisations, all coming together to collectively tackle homelessness”.
This investment strengthens BCHA’s ability to confidently deliver our Strategic Plan, strengthening our development plans and allows us to bring forward high-quality, self-contained homes that offer long-term stability rather than short-term solutions. These homes will sit alongside BCHA’s wraparound support, from mental health services to homelessness prevention, helping people rebuild their lives with security, dignity and hope. We know that creating more affordable homes is essential to preventing homelessness, and for every person given a front door of their own, this represents not just a fresh start, but an end to years of instability and uncertainty.
Homewards, launched in June 2023 by HRH The Prince of Wales, is a transformative five-year programme focused on demonstrating it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated. With six flagship locations, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, funding and partnership opportunities like this are successfully helping the local area to focus on preventing homelessness.
The funding we secure from lenders is vital to enable additional affordable homes in the area. The loan from Lloyds is the product of some excellent partnership working across organisations, all coming together to collectively tackle homelessness.
This partnership with Lloyds Bank and Homewards marks a meaningful shift, enabling us to take practical, local action that will reduce homelessness and strengthen our community for the future.
Homewards Head of Local Delivery, Michael Corbishley, says: “This investment demonstrates the impact that Homewards with Lloyds Banking Group is having in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. By working together to unlock new finance for local housing providers, we are helping to create the conditions for more safe, secure and affordable homes to be built.
"Increasing the supply of high-quality homes is essential to preventing homelessness before it begins. Today’s announcement highlights real, tangible progress, and shows how through partnership, and by mobilising capital to focus on prevention, we can make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.”
Find out more about the Homewards mission on their website.
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