Nearly 50 homes have been transferred to the Salford council-owned company Derive Group following a £5.7m loan from the town hall. The authority is in the process of building the homes on the former Irwell Valley High School site, off Blandford Road, in the Pendleton and Charlestown ward, including 25 apartments and 21 apartments. Salford’s move is consistent with bosses’ long-term goal to bring social housing in the city back into public ownership. Irwell Valley High included the Alan Boyson ‘Tree of Knowledge’ mural on the gable end of the main school building and was Grade II-listed in 2009 prior to the demolition of the school buildings. The structure has been retained and incorporated into the gable end of a pair of semi-detached houses. Derive RP will manage 41 of the properties – available through Salford Home Search at either social or affordable rent. The remaining five will be accessible via the Local Authority Housing Fund members to help those in urgent housing need, as identified by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. The loan period for Derive is Dérive will have 40 years a four per cent annual interest rate, with rental income expected to pay back the borrowing. It is the second transfer of homes to Dérive from the city council after the first batch included 104 homes, the final 12 of these will be handed over by November 30. The decision was made at the city council’s property and regeneration briefing meeting. Coun Tracy Kelly, Salford’s lead member for housing and regeneration said: “Salford city council is delivering the largest affordable housing programme that the city has seen for 60 years, providing a range of quality and sustainable homes to meet local needs.” Kelly said: “The 25 apartments and 21 houses, which are being built on a former school site, will meet Passivhaus standards, meaning they’ll be highly energy efficient,” she said. “Not only will this help us move towards our target of carbon neutrality by 2038, but importantly it means residents will benefit from lower energy bills and warmer homes. “The city is in urgent need of more affordable housing and the council wholly owned Dérive was set up to deliver our vision to invest in new homes” Coun John Merry, chair of the Dérive board, added: “The transfer of these properties is another great step in our journey to provide truly affordable housing for people and families in Salford,” Merry said. “The business arms of Dérive are steadily building a portfolio of homes as we expand operations.” The properties were designed by PRP Architects and the main building contractor is Seddon Construction.
