NHC welcomes change on funding replacement homes

The Northern Housing Consortium has welcomed the news from Homes England that grant funding from the Affordable Homes Programme can be used to fund replacement homes, alongside additional new affordable homes, as part of wider estate regeneration plans.

 

NHC members and others have long called for the restrictions on net additionality to be revised, and at the NHC’s first meeting with Housing Minister, Rachel Maclean MP, we highlighted the challenges this posed for our members, and urged her to adopt a more flexible approach. What Government have announced is that grants can now be used to fund replacement homes – where they are being delivered alongside net additional affordable housing.

 

We recognise that members will have questions about the change, and how it will work in practice. The NHC is working with Homes England to arrange a Q&A member webinar shortly.  Look out for details on MyNHC, or email Kristina.Dawson@northern-consortium.org.uk if you would like to be notified when bookings open.

 

Brian Robson, Executive Director (Policy and Public Affairs), said:

 

“It’s good to see the minister has clearly listened to what NHC members and the wider housing sector have been saying for some time. We welcome this week’s announcement and hope this will enable more much-needed regeneration in the North. We’re currently talking to Homes England about what this means in practice for our members, and hope the webinar we have planned will prove useful.”