The government last week surprised everyone by announcing a further £300m top-up to the existing 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme (AHP)

Ministers beleive this latest funding, which follows a £500m top-up previously announced in the autumn budget, will enable 2,800 extra homes to be built, with around half for social rent. A total of £60m will be available for homes in London with £240m for the rest of England.

The funding has been welcomed by the sector, but many social housing leaders have warned much more will be needed, along with rental income certainty for the coming years, to enable us to build the homes we need.

So how will the funding work? The £300m is a top-up to the existing AHP and many of the same processes are in place. But given the fact we are nearing the end of the 2021-26 programme, it is worth us clarifying how to bid, what can be funded and the timescales and deadlines involved.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has answered the following key questions for Housing Today.