The UK government has announced £409m for the West Midlands to build thousands more council, social and affordable homes. As part of a new programme to move families in temporary accommodation or on housing waiting lists into safe, secure homes, the Prime Minister announced nearly £10b in allocations across England.
Almost 180,000 children grow up without a permanent home, which is why this is just the first wave of funding that will support the delivery of more than 70,000 homes across England—including 3,200 homes in the West Midlands. Around 60% of homes delivered are expected to be for Social Rent, the most affordable form of rented housing.
“No child should be raised in a hostel room, and no family should wait ten years for a front door of their own,” said Prime Minister Andy Burnham. “I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home.
“Nearly £10 billion will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest. Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”
This is only the first stage of a ten-year programme, however, with more than £16b remaining to be allocated outside London. In total, the government will set aside £39b for its Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The money will go to 33 Strategic Partners, i.e. councils, housing associations and other providers, which secure long-term funding to deliver homes at scale.
Today’s £10b package supports the delivery of 73,600 new social and affordable homes across England over the next ten years—the largest expansion of council housing in decades—with over £2b expected to be spent in Mayoral areas outside of London. It also builds on the government’s commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament.
“Families can’t be left raising children without a place to call home, and none of us should spend years waiting for somewhere safe and affordable to live,” said Secretary of State Angela Rayner. “I know how important fixing this is – because I’ve been there. A safe and secure home was the foundation for a better life – I couldn’t have got to where I have today without it.”
Regional funding breakdown:
- Greater Manchester: £529m estimated spend to support c. 4,400 homes
- West Midlands: £409m estimated spend to support c. 3,200 homes
- North East: £445m estimated spend to support c. 3,400 homes
- West Yorkshire: £441m estimated spend to support c. 4,000 homes
- Liverpool City Region: £380m estimated spend to support c. 3,100 homes
- South Yorkshire: £249m estimated spend to support c. 2,200 homes
