A social housing provider whose funding was frozen after being issued with a regulatory notice over the death of toddler Awaab Ishak has been granted £55m to deliver new homes.

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) had received the regulatory notice in 2022 due to its failings in dealing with damp and mould, as well as breaches of its consumer and governance standards.

The notice followed the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020, who developed a respiratory condition due to prolonged mould exposure while living in a flat on Rochdale's Freehold estate.

Awaab’s Law was subsequently introduced in 2023 and requires social housing providers to meet home requirements set out in the Government’s legislation.

RBH had also been stripped of new Government funding following the incident. However, the organisation was found to have made improvements and boosted its standards last year, with £55m of new bank funding having now been secured.

According to RBH, the funding package will help the organisation navigate ‘one of the most complex recoveries in the housing sector’, supporting its delivery of regeneration projects and new homes, as well as investment in existing properties to ensure the safety and sustainability of housing.

Amanda Newton, chief executive at RBH, said: ‘Securing this funding package is a real vote of confidence in RBH and in our future.

‘Building on our return to compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing last year, it means we can look into 2026 with increased optimism as we deliver on our three-year Corporate Strategy, which has the needs of our customers firmly at its heart.’

Ms Newton also hailed the support of the organisation’s existing funders and its new funder, Principality, which has delivered a £20m loan to RBH.