Alpha Housing has secured a £20 million sustainability-linked loan from Danske Bank to fund the construction of 240 new social homes across Northern Ireland over the next five years.

The investment framework will allow Alpha Housing to accelerate its construction pipeline, expanding its overall housing stock by approximately 25%. The upcoming developments will consist of a varied mix of general needs housing alongside dedicated properties for individuals aged over 55, delivered through a combination of bungalows and apartment blocks.

Under the terms of the financial agreement, Alpha Housing and Danske Bank have established explicit Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets. The structure directly links the interest costs of the loan to the housing association's verified performance against specific sustainability benchmarks.

A core component of the agreement requires the delivery of four distinct biodiversity initiatives every year across both newly constructed and existing housing developments. These ecological measures will include hedge planting and the creation of dedicated wildlife ponds. This project represents the first instance where Danske Bank has embedded specific biodiversity criteria into a social housing finance package.

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Alpha Housing's established environmental strategy already incorporates natural features within its current portfolio, such as wildflower meadows, swift boxes, 'no-mow' zones, and wildlife ponds to support local ecosystems.

In addition to biodiversity, the loan outlines specific energy efficiency targets. Alpha Housing intends to upgrade the energy ratings of 50 existing properties annually and install solar panel systems across a selected number of its new-build homes.

Cameron Watt, Chief Executive at Alpha Housing, said: "We place huge importance on sustainability and biodiversity across our schemes, and this significant sustainability‑linked loan from Danske Bank allows us to embed clear biodiversity commitments as we grow.

"We have ambitious plans to grow our portfolio and this £20m funding facility and Danske Bank's support will go a long way to help us achieve our goal of 240 sustainable new homes in the next five years."

Dominic O'Neill, Senior Corporate Banking Manager at Danske Bank, said: "We are pleased to support Alpha Housing with this significant funding package. Alpha Housing is showing real leadership by committing to measurable sustainability targets that go beyond energy efficiency alone.

"By linking finance to ESG outcomes, including biodiversity action, this partnership will help deliver new homes while creating lasting environmental benefits for communities across Northern Ireland. We remain firmly committed to supporting the social housing sector and meeting the needs of people across Northern Ireland."