Home > Salford based housing association stars in BBC documentary focussing on the UK housing crisis

Salford based housing association stars in BBC documentary focussing on the UK housing crisis

News | 4 March 2020

Housing association, Salix Homes, has featured in the second series of a BBC documentary series, Britain’s Housing Scandal, demonstrating how it is tackling the housing crisis.

The series, which is presented by popular broadcaster, Matt Allwright, focuses on how repurposing empty buildings can play an important role in providing affordable homes for people in housing need.

The Salford-based housing association which manages around 8,000 properties around Salford also featured heavily in the first series of the documentary in 2019.

Jonathan Drake, who looks after Salix Homes’ private sector leasing-arm Salix Living and features in the programme, said: “At a time of a housing crisis, and with more than 6,500 people on the housing waiting list in Salford alone, Salix Homes is committed to bringing empty buildings back into use as affordable housing so we’re honoured to be able to show the work we’re doing on the BBC.”

The recent episode which aired on Thursday, 27 February showcased Salix Homes’ NHS key worker development Alexander Gardens. A 26-home scheme which now houses doctors, nurses and other clinic staff for Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust. The development began as a former sheltered housing complex and cost more than £2m to convert.

Jonathan continued, “This if the second time the BBC has chosen to visit us, so we’re very proud to be able to showcase some of the positive examples of how empty properties and buildings can be utilised to create more desperately needed homes.”

Salix Homes’ Joan Lestor development, which opened its doors last year having previously stood empty for a number of years, will feature in episode eight of the series, which will air today (Wednesday, 4 March) at 9:15am on BBC One. The development appeared in series one before work had started.

Matt Allwright said “It’s repurposing schemes just like this one that can make a real difference to communities in desperate need of affordable homes”