Councils “must remain at the heart” of delivering affordable homes, the LGA has said, following announcements of additional funding over the summer.
The Government set out how £9.58 billion is being allocated to strategic partners – including councils and housing associations – to support the delivery of 73,600 new social and affordable homes across England over the next 10 years.
This is the first tranche of its £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
Additionally, ministers announced a further £46 million in ‘Capacity to Build’ funding, to support and strengthen councils’ ability to deliver and acquire new council homes. Among other things, this will fund the continuation of the LGA-run Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS) and an expansion of the Pathways to Planning graduate scheme, also delivered by the LGA.
More than 100 councils have already engaged with CHoSS and more than half have so far received tailored support.
An LGA spokesperson said councils have long called for a sustained return to building genuinely affordable homes, are ready to work with government to deliver a revival in social housebuilding, and that the funding announcements were “positive steps to achieving this ambition”.
They added: “Given the key role for councils in delivering these homes, it is crucial they remain at the heart of delivery. Mayors should work closely with local authorities in their areas to achieve the most from this money, with councils also having access to preferential borrowing rates to support viability.”