More councils will be able to bring forward ambitious affordable
housing plans thanks to a £21.8 million boost to the Council
Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF).
Available until March 2029, the revenue funding will help local
authorities build the skills, capacity and partnerships needed to
develop strong bids for the Social and Affordable Homes
Programme (SAHP).
Housing Secretary said:
Councils will be at the heart of the biggest housebuilding
revival in decades, but we know many lack the capacity and
expertise to turn plans into reality.
This funding will help councils build the skills,
capacity and partnerships needed to make the most of our historic
£39 billion investment.
By putting councils back in the driving seat, we're helping more
families find a safe, secure place they can call home.
Councils can apply for funding to support:
-
knowledge and skills development
-
housing pipeline development
-
pre-development and enabling activities
-
partnership working
-
additionalstaffing capacity.
Bidding opens on 21 September until 2 November. Funding
decisions will be made from December 2026, with further
bidding rounds in April 2027 and 2028.
By supporting work at an early stage, the fund will help councils
unlock more housing opportunities, maximise social rent delivery
and respond to local housing needs.
Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing at Homes England,
said:
The Council Housebuilding Support Fundis a strong example of
how Homes England is enabling locally led housing
delivery and helping councils unlock more affordable homes for
their communities.
We will continue to lead engagement with councils, manage the
applicationprocessand make investment recommendations tothe
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
(MHCLG),
helping local authorities turn housing ambitions into deliverable
projectsfunded by SAHP.
The additional investment forms part of the
government's wider £46 million Capacity to Build support package
announced in August 2026 and builds on the success of the fund's
first round in 2025. Capacity to Build also includes activity
from the Local Government Association via Council Housebuilding
Support Services that provides free upfront assessment and
tailored support to Councils and Pathways into Planning that aims
to bring 150 new graduate planners into the sector between 2026
to 2029.
CHSF will
provide revenue funding to help around 75 councils
tosubmitcapital bids to SAHP. Councils
also have access to capital funding via Right to
Buy receipts, Housing Revenue Accounts and borrowing via the
Public Works Loan Board at a discounted rate.
Homes England's regionalDelivery Teams are working with councils
across England to provide technical,strategicand
practicalsupporttotheir housebuilding aspirations.
You can apply for funding from the
Council Housebuilding Support Fund on GOV.UK.
About Homes England
We are the government's housing and regeneration Agency,
and we're here to drive the creation of more
affordable, quality homes and thriving places so that everyone
has a place to live and grow.
We make this happen by working in partnership with thousands of
organisations of all sizes, using our powers, expertise,
land, capital and influence to bring investment to
communities and get more quality homes built.
Learn more about us: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england/about
