A cash injection of nearly £22m has been delivered to help councils accelerate housebuilding plans for affordable homes.
The £21.8m boost will be delivered to the Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF) and aims to support local authorities in improving the delivery of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP).
A statement from the Government confirmed that bidding opened today for revenue funding, which will be available until March 2029.
The funding from the CHSF will enable roughly 75 councils to submit bids to the SAHP, with local authorities having the option to apply for subsidy to support the following areas:
- Knowledge and skills development
- Housing pipeline development
- Pre-development and enabling activities
- Partnership working
- Additional staffing capacity.
It is designed to assist councils in creating more housing opportunities, as well as maximising social rent delivery and meeting local housing needs.
Delivery Teams from Homes England have been deployed to equip councils with the ‘technical,?strategic?and practical?support’ required for housebuilding plans.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: ‘Councils will be at the heart of the biggest housebuilding revival in decades, but we know many lack the capacity and expertise to turn plans into reality.
‘This funding will help councils build the skills, capacity and partnerships needed to make the most of our historic £39bn investment. By putting councils back in the driving seat, we’re helping more families find a safe, secure place they can call home.’
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