Private sector providers will fill any gaps left by housing associations struggling with fire safety costs on the new £11.5bn affordable homes programme, according to a senior Homes England executive.

Stephen Kinsella, the agency’s chief land and development officer said he was confident the body will secure enough bids to hit its target to build 180,000 homes with the cash, despite many housing associations reining in their development programmes in the face of escalating fire safety costs.

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