L&Q, one of the UK’s leading charitable housing associations, convened a roundtable of local councillors and groups from across Warwickshire to discuss its future community investment priorities.
The event was held as L&Q announced plans to expand into the region, building quality affordable homes whilst investing in local initiatives and the economy.
The investment package will support projects and community activities through L&Q’s £250 million charitable Foundation – set up in 2011 to bring together its social and economic programmes.
L&Q is already active in Warwickshire with ambitions to provide at least 850 much-needed new homes across the county over the next three years, of which over a third will be affordable. This summer, L&Q will launch 60 new homes at Birnam Mews in Tiddington, and in 2020, 450 homes at Beauchamp Park in Warwick.
Research undertaken by Warwick District Council shows the district will need to build 16,776 new homes between 2011 and 2029 to meet local need. In Stratford-on-Avon, at least 14,600 new homes will be required between 2011 and 2031, which is an average of 730 per year.
The roundtable was attended by a broad range of local organisations including Warwick District Council, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. The discussion focused on three key topics: health and wellbeing, environment and culture and workforce.
The input from these discussions will be used by the L&Q Foundation to help inform its bespoke regional investment and partnership package for the region, which will be announced later this year.