Andy Burnham challenges councils to ‘construct this nation out of housing disaster’ as £10billion allotted
The Prime Minister will unveil £10billion of funding for social and affortable housing across England, with officials expecting more than 70,000 desperately-needed homes will be needed
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Andy Burnham has called on councils to “build this country out of a housing crisis” as he allocated £10billion for council and affordable homes.
The PM carved out cash for 73,600 homes – of which two-thirds are expected to be social housing – across England as part of the drive to deliver 1.5million homes by 2029. It comes as alarming research shows nearly 180,000 children are living in temporary accommodation.
The funding allowances include £529million for more than 4,000 homes in Greater Manchester, £409m for 3,200 in the West Midlands and 4,000 in West Yorkshire using £441m. Mr Burnham said: “No child should be raised in a hostel room and no family should wait ten years for a front door of their own.
“I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home. Nearly £10 billion will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest.
“Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again.”
Other figures released last night show there will be £409m for around 3,200 homes in the West Midlands, £445m for 3,400 in the North East and £380m to built an estimated 3,100 homes in Liverpool.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: “Families can’t be left raising children without a place to call home, and none of us should spend years waiting for somewhere safe and affordable to live.
“I know how important fixing this is – because I’ve been there. A safe and secure home was the foundation for a better life – I couldn’t have got to where I have today without it.
“That’s why the Prime Minister and I are doing everything we can to get councils building once again – it’s fundamental to turning the housing crisis around, helping families out of temporary accommodation and into a secure home.”
The tranche of funding – which will be unveiled in full on Tuesday – is the first phase in the government’s £39billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, which began under Keir Starmer.
A further £6billion in funding is set to be announced separately to fund new homes in London. The cash announced will go to 33 councils, housing associations and other providers who went through a bidding process.
More than £2billion is expected to be spent in Mayoral areas outside of London. And a further £16billion will be allocated in future – helping deliver the largest expansion of council housing in decades.
And Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “It is hugely welcome to see this much-anticipated funding confirmed, something we have been calling for to kickstart construction on tens of thousands of desperately needed new social homes.
“This is a major vote of confidence in not-for-profit housing associations and in the vital and distinct role they play in this country, as organisations that work for the long-term benefit of their communities.”
