New scheme to boost number of affordable homes in England

The government has launched a new scheme to boost the number of affordable homes in England over the next five years.

Its housing agency Homes England is seeking strategic partners with the ambition and capacity to deliver affordable housing at scale.

Strategic partnerships are a way to access grant funding from Homes England through the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme (2021-2026).

While these partnerships have historically only been available to not-for-profit providers, this time Homes England is welcoming proposals from for-profit affordable housing providers and developers, and local authorities.

Strategic partnerships play a pivotal role in Homes England’s mission to use everything at its disposal to intervene in the market to provide new homes. Partners can benefit from the certainty of affordable homes grant funding for the duration of the deal, with greater flexibility to deliver and bespoke access to the agency’s land and investment capabilities.

In return, strategic partners need to demonstrate how they are supporting Homes England’s strategic objectives within their development programme. This includes the adoption of modern methods of construction (MMC), a dedication to high-quality sustainable design and a commitment to working closely with SMEs.

Gordon More, Interim Chief Executive Homes England, said: “Building on the successes of our existing strategic partnerships, we’re welcoming bids from a broader set of partners that are as committed as we are to design quality and modernisation.”

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