Government unveils £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme

Nearly £7.5bn will be delivered outside London by Homes England. The Greater London Authority has been offered £4bn and negotiations about what it will deliver with this funding are in progress.

Homes England will publish its Affordable Homes Programme prospectus this week, inviting councils, housing associations and private providers to start preparing their bids. New homes will be delivered from next year.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Today’s announcement represents the highest single funding commitment to affordable housing in a decade and is part of our comprehensive plans to build back better.”

Jenrick also announced a new model for shared ownership to help more people onto the property ladder by reducing the minimum initial share, and launching a consultation to ensure new homes deliver the accessibility required by families.

Under the new shared ownership model, the minimum initial share buyers can purchase in a property will fall from 25% to 10%. People will also be able to buy additional shares in their home in 1% instalments, with reduced fees, and there will be a 10-year period for new shared owners where the landlord will cover the cost of any repairs and maintenance

Nick Walkley, chief executive of Homes England, said: “The fund will support improved productivity in construction and unlock new economic opportunities across the country. Despite the challenges of covid-19, this long-term funding settlement gives our partners the confidence they need to invest in new homes and the communities they work for.”