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Affordable house building through Homes England lowest since 2017/18
Guest Author:
Samantha PartingtonThe figures reveal a seven per cent year-on-year decline in affordable homes delivery
Construction of affordable homes delivered through Homes England programmes fell to 9,255 properties between April and September, the lowest number built over a six month period since 2017/18.
Meanwhile, the number of homes priced at market value under construction using Homes England grant funding rose from 2,685 to 3,974 year-on-year.
Figures released by Homes England, a public body that receives funding from the government to deliver affordable housing, show a seven per cent year-on-year decline between April and September in its affordable homes delivery.
Not since the six months to September 17/18 when construction of 6,968 affordable homes began, have rates of housing starts been so low.
According to the public body, affordable homes delivery fell because developers could no longer bid for funding through its shared ownership programme. A new affordable homes programme was launched in April.
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The aim of the new scheme is to provide over £7.39bn of grant funding through Homes England from April 2021 to help pay for the construction of up to 130,000 new homes outside of London by March 2026.
Overall, homes delivered by Homes England partners reached 13,229 between April and September, up from 12,652 the year before, an increase of five per cent. However, compared to the same period in 2019, housing starts were down by 27 per cent.
Homes England programmes are funded by the government to allow housing associations, builders, community groups and local authorities to build affordable homes.
Schemes include affordable homes to buy and rent built by local authorities and housing associations, shared ownership homes and some housing sold at open market value.