Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) received the Government's go ahead to develop new affordable housing in the borough this week. They were one of eight other "3 star" Arms Length Management Organisations from across the country to be approved.

The news was revealed in the Government's housing green paper published this week. Top performing ALMOs like BHP are at the forefront of plans to deliver 45,000 new social homes a year by 2010-11.

This follows hot on the heels of the BHP's recent completion of the 'Decent Homes Initiative' that has brought all Brent's council housing up to the Government's "Decent Homes standard".

BHP Managing Director Helen Evans said "I am very pleased that BHP has now been approved as a developer of new affordable housing in the borough with the full support of my board and Brent Council.

Working in partnership, BHP and Brent Council have been acknowledged as having successfully delivered a range of highly innovative and challenging housing projects.

This approval means that we will be able to provide housing that suits the needs of the 21st century. This is good news, especially for those who are in desperate. housing need in the borough".

This week's announcement adds to BHP's recent successes that include £2.1m to deliver extensions to council owned dwellings and develop an innovative shared ownership scheme and £5m to set up a company to increase the number of much needed family sized homes.