Torus met the Secretary of State for Housing and Housing Minister on Monday to discuss the government’s ongoing commitment to deliver more affordable homes.

Torus Chief Executive Steve Coffey was among a select number of sector leaders to attend a roundtable event led by the government’s Secretary of State for Housing, Steve Reed OBE MP, and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP.

The session follows government announcing a new £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme in the Spring Spending Review.

Spanning 10 years, it is part of a long-term commitment to help the sector build more homes as government targets 1.5 million new properties by the end of this parliament.

Torus Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said:

"I am delighted to have heard first-hand from the Secretary of State about his plans to build on the recent Spending Review settlement and maximise the early delivery of new affordable homes.

"At Torus, we share that commitment and are ambitious to build new homes across the North West that will enhance our communities and promote economic growth, particularly given the recently published Growth Plan for the Liverpool City Region rightly identifies housing and regeneration as a key strategic priority.

"We look forward to the publication of the Social and Affordable Housing Programme prospectus and are keen to play our part in delivering the affordable homes our communities need.”

Mr Coffey, who is also a Board member of the National Housing Federation, was joined at the event by its Chief Executive Kate Henderson.

She said:

“It’s been great to meet with the new Secretary of State and hear his and the government’s ongoing commitment to delivering a generational renewal for social and affordable housing.

“This summer the government laid the groundwork for these ambitions, including the largest pot of funding for affordable housing that we’ve seen in many years.

“Housing associations are stepping up to do their part to end the housing crisis and are working in partnership with the government to build these sorely needed affordable homes at scale and pace.”