Abundance launches new green homes investment

Liverpool Community Homes PLC is the third housing offer launched on Abundance, following the success of two previous offers.Peer-to-peer ethical investment platform Abundance pitches its “greenest ever” social and affordable housing investment as ready for launch.The scheme is the third so far from developer Octevo Housing Solutions.Liverpool Community Homes PLC is raising up to £6,850,000 to finance two green and sustainable developments on the outskirts of Liverpool to be used for affordable and supported living social housing.Up to 37 new homes will be built across the two sites in Huyton and Northwood.The homes will be designed to environmental standards made possible by the innovative finance method and include improvements in glazing and insulation to reduce the heating requirement – which will be fully provided by ground source heat pumps.Solar panels will generate a high proportion of the electricity demand on site. Other sustainability measures will include the latest water-efficiency systems.Octevo estimates these combined measures will reduce each home’s energy demand by 80% to 93% compared with the UK’s average home, cutting tenants’ energy bills and helping tackle fuel poverty.Octevo builds homes specifically for the long-term rental market, with its social rental model said to secure long-term cash flows which also allow investment in low-carbon measures by spreading the up-front costs over a longer period of time.This approach, combined with the funding provided by Abundance investors, creates what Octevo calls a “unique, sustainable model” for building greener, affordable homes.As with all Abundance investments, Liverpool Community Homes PLC is raising money through tradeable Debentures, offering 6% annual interest for a 2.5 year term.The minimum investment is just £5, and the debentures are eligible to be held in an Innovative Finance ISA so returns can be tax-free.