Sector calls on government to spend SAHP quicker, with 41,000 planned affordable homes currently unfunded

Housing sector bodies have come together to call on the government to use its upcoming Budget to make additional grant funding available in the early years of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP).

The National Housing Federation (NHF), the Chartered institute of Housing, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Housing, the Council with ALMOs Group and the Northern Housing Consortium all signed onto the demand, as well as calling on ministers to confirm the details of the low-cost loans promised at the last spending review.

According to analysis from the NHF, the first wave of grant allocations from the government’s SAHP has left 41,000 planned subsidised homes outside of London unfunded, including 25,000 homes for social rent.

The NHF said that 15,000 of the overall number, including 9,000 social rent homes, could have been delivered within the next three years.

The initial £9.6bn allocations from the 10-year £39bn programme were announced in August, with that money set to support delivery of 73,600 homes.

But according to the NHF, some housing associations with strong delivery records missed out or received less than they bid for.

The NHF said the result would be “significant pressure” on the programme’s Continuous Market Engagement route, where funding is bid for on a scheme-by-scheme basis.

The group of housing sector bodies was joined by the chair of the House of Commons’ housing, communities and local government committee, Abena Oppong-Asare, in calling on the government to use the Budget to act.

“The government should use the upcoming Budget to increase the building of social homes by ensuring a significant proportion of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme is allocated during this Parliament,” she said. 

“Families stuck on social housing waiting lists need to see action now. I urge the Chancellor to ensure a significant sum of the £39bn SAHP is allocated during this Parliament and that truly affordable Social Rent homes are prioritised as part of this package.”