Families facing housing challenges are set to receive support through an initiative empowering regional mayors to influence the types of homes built in their communities. This move marks the first time mayors will have a significant say in determining the need for homes tailored to specific demographics, such as the elderly, high-rise apartments, or council housing.
Today, mayors in six regions have been briefed on proposed budgets under the Government’s groundbreaking £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme. This allocation will enable mayors, in collaboration with Homes England, to develop crucial housing strategies for their respective areas. These plans will serve as a roadmap for housing providers seeking funding, with bids expected to open in February.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed recently met with social and affordable housing providers to urge them to submit ambitious funding proposals under the program. In a statement to the Mirror, Reed emphasized the urgency of addressing housing shortages and homelessness, calling for a substantial increase in social housing construction.
The proposed spending plans allocate significant budgets to key regions, with Greater Manchester earmarked for £1.8 billion, followed by the West Midlands at £1.6 billion, the North East at £1.1 billion, and West Yorkshire at £1 billion. Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire are each projected to receive £700 million.
While these figures are preliminary, they offer mayors a starting point to craft preliminary plans, and the final allocations may vary based on official bids. Although indicative budgets have been disclosed for only the most established authorities, funding will be distributed nationwide, with London already allocated £11.7 billion over a ten-year span.
Sarah Elliott, CEO of Shelter, highlighted the pressing need for affordable social rent homes, emphasizing the challenges faced by families grappling with soaring private rents and housing insecurity. She called on the government to not only invest in social housing but also set ambitious targets to ensure sustainable housing solutions and ultimately end homelessness.
By prioritizing social rent delivery and holding private developers accountable for their role in building social homes, the government can work towards the ambitious goal of constructing 90,000 social homes annually over the next decade. This concerted effort is essential to making safe and secure housing accessible to all those in need.