BOLTON housing bosses are celebrating news that more than £12million is to be ploughed into housing association developments in the town over the next 12 months.

The huge investment will mean that more than 200 new or improved homes will be created in areas where affordable housing is most needed.

More than £5m is to be given to Bolton Community Homes, the joint company set up by housing associations in the town. And the council and the housing associations themselves are planning to spend around £7m on various schemes in 1999/2000.

The Housing Corporation, which oversees housing association investments, is making the money available to BCH through its Social Housing Grant. It will be used to carry out a mix of building new and improving existing housing in the Borough.

Among the schemes targeted for cash aid are the Manchester Methodist Housing Association project at Church Street, Little Lever, and the Portico HA development of 19 flats at Farnworth. Both are new build projects.

"This is tremendous news," said Housing Committee Chair Cllr Noel Spencer. "The overall allocation for the North West region has increased by 25pc from last year, which is welcome news in itself - but Bolton's share of this pot has increased by 58pc.

"Once again the council's commitment to Bolton Community Homes coupled with the work done by the various housing associations, has paid off above expectations and will help make an impact on improving housing in the borough," he said.

The news follows the announcement that £17million is to be invested in the town's private and council-owned stock over the next 12 months.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.