Maribor - The Housing Fund inaugurated a new neighbourhood of 400 rental flats, including 60 assisted living flats, in Maribor on Tuesday, an investment worth EUR 51 million.

The flats in the neighbourhood Pod Pekrsko Gorco, spanning from 35 to 85 square metres, are sustainable constructions. They are designed as low-energy buildings with an integrated ventilation system and efficient heat recovery and belong to the top energy class A1.

The neighbourhood has plenty of green spaces, featuring playgrounds, walking paths and an exercise area. There will also be an e-car charging station and a pre-installation for a solar power plant, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning said.

The opening is the culmination of the fund's investment cycle under the National Housing Programme 2015-2025, both in terms of the quality of the construction and the usability for all vulnerable groups, including young people, young families, the elderly and all those with special needs, said the fund.

The ministry said that this was one of 34 projects that will be developed under the auspices of the fund, supported by Slovenia's recovery and resilience plan and financed by the Council of Europe Development Bank.

The investment has been financed by nearly EUR 22 million in grants.

At the end of July, the ministry approved EUR 60 million in EU funds from the plan for the projects that will provide additional 1,036 public rental flats.

The investment has been facilitated by changes to the housing act adopted in June 2021 which are aimed at promoting the construction of additional public rental housing and the mobilisation of vacant private housing under the public rental service.

The fund aims to ensure 10,000 public rental flats by 2025.