Alpha currently owns and manages more than 1,000 homes across Northern Ireland, providing sheltered housing for older people, alongside homes for families and disabled people. With more than 50,000 households currently on the social housing waiting list across Northern Ireland, Alpha’s building of new social homes will help address significant housing need across the region.
In line with Alpha’s commitment to decarbonisation, the homes will be built to high energy efficiency standards, achieving a minimum EPC ‘B’ rating, helping residents to save on energy costs while lowering environmental impact. Alpha aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% over the next five years and incorporate biodiversity measures in its new developments.
Alpha plans to deliver the new homes over the next five years, with lending from Triodos supplemented by grant funding from the Department for Communities. This agreement marks Triodos Bank's first lending to a housing association in Northern Ireland.
Alpha was advised on the bank funding arrangements by Savills Treasury Consultants, with legal support from Carson McDowell. Triodos received legal counsel from Addleshaw Goddard and A & L Goodbody, plus valuation advice from Savills Valuers.
Gerard McKeown, COO of Alpha Housing, said: “The lending from Triodos Bank will support us through an ambitious period of growth as we deliver more high-quality, energy efficient homes across Northern Ireland. This investment will help us respond to growing housing need while creating homes and communities where people can thrive.”
Active in the UK since 1995, with offices in Bristol, London and Edinburgh, Triodos Bank lends solely to organisations delivering positive social, environmental or cultural impact. In the last 18 years it has provided over £500m of lending to more than 50 housing associations across the UK.The agreement marks Triodos Bank's first lending to a housing association in Northern Ireland.
Peter Borgers, senior relationship manager in the lending team at Triodos Bank UK, added: “We are delighted to have Alpha join us as our first housing association customer in Northern Ireland and to support it in its ambitions to provide more much-needed homes across Northern Ireland. The association has an excellent track record as a provider of high-quality social housing, and its work to support nature recovery very much aligns with our mission and values.”
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NOTES TO EDITOR
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact:
Ellie James, PR & Communications Manager: [email protected] / +44 (0)117 311 0241
About Triodos Bank
Founded in 1980, Triodos Bank is a frontrunner in impact finance. As an independent, mission-driven bank, Triodos Bank uses money consciously to create positive change, demonstrating that caring for people and planet goes hand in hand with healthy financial returns.
Triodos Bank is the only B-Corp certified bank listed on Euronext Amsterdam. The bank operates in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Spain and Germany, with Investment Management activities based in the Netherlands and active globally.
Triodos Bank co-founded the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of 70 sustainable banks worldwide. Together these banks work on growing a financial system that supports the real economy and delivers lasting social and environmental impact.
Triodos Bank UK Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triodos Bank NV. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 11379025. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008. VAT reg no 793493383.