The government has kickstarted its £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme by allocating funds of £9.58bn to support the delivery of more than 73,600 new council, social and affordable homes across England over the next 10 years.
The funding will be distributed to 33 strategic partners, including councils, housing associations and other providers. Alongside housing associations, councils will be awarded strategic partner status with Homes England, with around 60% of homes delivered through these partnerships expected to be for social rent.
This is the first major wave of funding allocations under the programme with further funding allocated over the lifetime of the programme.
Prime minister Andy Burnham said: “No child should be raised in a hostel room and no family should wait 10 years for a front door of their own. I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home. Nearly £10bn will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest. Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”
Secretary of state Angela Rayner added: “Families can’t be left raising children without a place to call home, and none of us should spend years waiting for somewhere safe and affordable to live. I know how important fixing this is – because I’ve been there. A safe and secure home was the foundation for a better life – I couldn’t have got to where I have today without it. That’s why the prime minister and I are doing everything we can to get councils building once again – it’s fundamental to turning the housing crisis around, helping families out of temporary accommodation and into a secure home.”
Amy Rees, chief executive officer of Homes England, said: “Today’s announcement marks an important step in delivering the government’s £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. Through these strategic partnerships and continuous market engagement, alongside Homes England’s wider investment including through the National Housing Bank, we can help unlock thousands of much-needed homes across England. By working with councils, mayors, housing associations and local partners, we can support the return of council housebuilding at scale, increase the supply of social rent homes and create thriving places that people are proud to call home.”
