Actis Welcomes First £10bn Tranche of Social Homes Funding

Insulation specialist Actis has welcomed the announcement of the first wave of funding from the government’s £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP).

The first £9.58 billion has been allocated to 39 housing associations, councils and regions in England, which should help fund the construction of 73,600 homes, 60 per cent of which will be for social rent.

Of these, six are in the established mayoral strategic authorities of Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, the North Esat, West Yorkshire, the Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire.

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Burnham has indicated that future waves of the funding will be more geared towards local authorities, following through on his promise to lead a nationwide surge in council housing. The first wave of funding has been largely contributed to housing associations  amidst doubt of councils capacity to efficiently follow through with the delivery needed.

Speaking at the Housing Community Summit in Liverpool last week, Planning and Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook addressed landlords and promised that the need for council housebuilding didn’t come before the need of social and affordable housing in totality, and associations would still have a large part to play in the wider housing regeneration hoped for by the government.

Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper says the homes are desperately needed, and adds that the programme will help boost the economy by providing employment opportunities and training for young tradespeople coming into the industry.

“This will help thousands of people and families to establish a permanent home, which is not only essential for their own wellbeing, but for the benefit of society as whole.”

He stresses that it’s vital that the homes are built to cope with extremes in temperature.

“This summer’s heatwaves highlight the importance of building homes which are thermally efficient – keeping heat in during the winter and out in the summer – to ensure the occupants are comfortable all year round.”