en.Wedoany.com Reported - Alpha Housing UK has signed a £20 million sustainability-linked loan agreement with Danske Bank to fund the construction of 240 social housing units in Northern Ireland, with delivery planned over the next five years.

This funding will increase Alpha Housing's housing stock by approximately 25%, with new homes including general needs housing as well as apartments and bungalows for people aged 55 and over. Under the agreement, both parties have set clear environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets, with financing costs directly linked to the housing association's performance on sustainability measures.

Specific targets in the agreement include implementing four biodiversity initiatives annually, such as planting hedgerows and creating wildlife ponds in both new and existing housing projects. This marks the first time Danske Bank has included biodiversity targets in a social housing financing scheme. Alpha Housing's existing projects already feature "no-mow" areas, wildlife ponds, wildflower meadows, and swift boxes, aimed at supporting wildlife and improving the living environment for tenants.

The loan also supports energy efficiency improvements, with Alpha Housing planning to upgrade the energy efficiency rating of 50 homes each year, including installing solar panels on some new properties. Cameron Watt, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Housing, stated that this loan enables the housing association to embed clear biodiversity commitments into its development process, helping to achieve the goal of building 240 sustainable new homes within five years. Dominic O’Neill, Senior Corporate Banking Manager at Danske Bank, noted that by linking financing to ESG outcomes, including biodiversity actions, this partnership will help deliver new homes and create lasting environmental benefits, and the bank remains committed to supporting the social housing sector in Northern Ireland.

This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com