Delivering more social and affordable homes with confidence
We all know that housing is one of the issues residents frequently raise with councillors.
In some places, the pressure to deliver new homes is immediate and visible. In others, conversations about building can be more contested and complex.
But wherever we serve, delivering more social and affordable council homes has become a central challenge for local authorities of all political colours.
That is why the LGA has been working with councils in England through the Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS) – a national, sector-led programme designed to help councils strengthen the capacity, confidence and leadership needed to deliver new homes for their communities.
CHoSS exists to support councillors and councils to lead housing delivery in a way that reflects their local priorities and political context – helping councils turn ambition into action, whatever stage they are at.
Set against the Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, CHoSS is fully funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and delivered by the LGA through a sector-led improvement model, by which councils can access bespoke support at no cost.
“This is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Councils are using the support in ways that reflect their political priorities, community pressures and ambitions”
For many councillors, the challenges to delivery will already be very familiar, emerging through conversations with officers about stalled schemes, stretched capacity, or the long-term risks and rewards of building more homes locally.
Since CHoSS was announced at the LGA’s annual conference last July, the programme has moved firmly into delivery. We have worked intensively with 10 ‘vanguard’ councils to help shape and refine the offer, and engaged with more than 80 authorities, with tailored support now live or mobilising in a growing number of places.
Councils involved range from those restarting housing delivery after many years, to those looking to scale up or unblock existing programmes.
What we are hearing consistently is that delivering at scale depends on having the right foundations in place: strong political commitment; clear governance; informed decision-making; and the organisational capability to deliver efficiently and sustainably over the long term.
For elected members, this matters. Housing delivery involves long-term investment, managing risk and navigating different delivery models, whether through housing revenue accounts, alternative delivery vehicles or partnerships.
CHoSS supports councils to step back, assess where they are and identify practical next steps that reflect local need while making best use of limited resources.
Crucially, this is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Councils are using the support in ways that reflect their political priorities, community pressures and housing ambitions.
In some areas, the focus is on accelerating delivery; in others, it is about rebuilding confidence, engaging members and laying the groundwork for future decisions.
The programme recognises that housing is political as well as practical, supporting councillors across parties to lead informed, place-based conversations about what delivery looks like for their communities.
Another strong theme emerging from early work is the value of learning from other councils.
Hearing directly from peers who have faced similar challenges – and understanding what has worked in practice – is helping councils move from aspiration to action.
As the programme continues to scale, CHoSS will support more councils to engage, reflect and act confidently, to deliver more homes and stronger communities for local residents.
- Find out more about CHoSS, and contact the team at choss@local.gov.uk.