The housing association has ambitious housing and environmental plans

Magenta Living is set to build more than 1000 new affordable homes over the next five years, after securing a £137 million funding package from NatWest. The funds will also enable the Wirral-based housing association to commence its transition to being a carbon zero housing provider.

The affordable housing landlord currently owns 13,000 homes across the North West and is the largest housing association in the Wirral with more than 600 employees. 

Magenta’s growth plans include carrying out maintenance work on existing homes as well as growing their portfolio to increase affordable housing levels across the region.

The funding from NatWest will also enable Magenta Living to progress its climate change strategy. This involves a 30-year commitment from the business to help tackle climate change through methods such as using electric vehicles, improving local green spaces, tackling fuel poverty and improving the energy performance of their housing portfolio.

The bank has attributed environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals to £75 million of the company’s loan facilities, helping Magenta Living to work towards the Government’s zero carbon homes target by 2050.

Ann Monk, executive director of finance at Magenta, said: “We aim to enhance local communities and help people access a better quality of life through the provision of improved homes for affordable renting. 

“Ultimately, we serve local communities in the North West region by building properties that create genuine social value, and this funding package from NatWest is helping us bring this vision to life.

“The bank’s backing is assisting us as we move towards our target of becoming a carbon zero organisation by 2050 with the creation of truly sustainable properties. This will allow us to continue growing and seizing new opportunities, as well as creating new jobs and encouraging investment into the areas we serve.”

Marcos Navarro, director and sustainability lead for housing finance at NatWest, said: “We’re committed to supporting housing associations nationwide and have provided a bespoke funding package that will help Magenta Living deliver affordable and sustainable properties to individuals and families across Wirral and the wider North West.

“We’ll continue to support the company as it expands its portfolio and delivers its climate change initiative. It was rewarding to work on a deal that adds such genuine social and environmental value.

“This new funding package will not only allow Magenta Living to build sustainable and affordable homes, but it will support its transition to net zero and create local jobs, supporting economic recovery following the pandemic”

This funding package forms part of NatWest’s commitment to support the housing association sector with £3 billion by the end of 2022, to help increase the provision of social housing and enable the improvement of existing properties.