Social and Affordable Homes Programme Statement August 2026

Welcoming the announcement of funding being released from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, Patrick Murray, Executive Director (Policy and External Relations) at the Northern Housing Consortium said:

 “It’s great news for communities in the North almost £10bn of funding from the Social and Affordable Homes programme has now been announced outside London. Our members stand ready to build much-needed new homes, and we share the Government’s ambition for everyone to have a secure, affordable home which gives them the foundation for a good life. Allocating this funding now is the most important step to building more social housing in the next few years.

We also welcome increased collaboration between Homes England and Strategic Mayoral Authorities, with a bigger role for Mayors in the future, and the North’s housing partnerships will also be central to this. In the North, these relationships already have strong foundations and are proving to be a successful delivery model. This will mean we will be able to better respond to different housing challenges in different places and ultimately get more of the right homes built in the right places.

“However, the programme has been oversubscribed, which demonstrates the appetite for development and unfortunately means disappointment for some of our members who could build more much needed social homes with more funding. We also understand that the flexibility which allows the Social and Affordable Home Programme to be used for estate regeneration could be further utilised to unlock more delivery. There is a gap in funding for regeneration. Our Renew inquiry has found regeneration acts as a catalyst for new development and unlocks capacity to build more social housing, particularly in the North. Further investment in housing-led regeneration through a £500m per year, 10-year devolved regeneration fund is needed.

Nonetheless this is a good day for all those in need of an affordable home. This announcement will mean more social housing and housing associations and councils can finally get on with building.”