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Homes England wants 25% increase in building for strategic partnerships
The government’s housing delivery agency will ask housing associations to increase building of affordable homes by at least 25% if they are to sign partnership deals, among other new criteria.
In a joint letter sent to housing associations, Homes England and the National Housing Federation (NHF) set out a list of requirements for housing associations to meet in order to take part in the second wave of strategic partnerships.
The partnerships are part of Homes England’s new way of working with the sector, first revealed by chief executive Nick Walkley in an interview in January with Inside Housing.
The first wave, announced last month, saw £590m allocated in eight strategic partnerships, aimed at delivering 14,280 additional affordable homes.
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As Inside Housing reported earlier this month, Homes England has been speaking with housing associations that were involved in the first wave but didn’t get a deal, as well as others that have come forward.
The letter reveals that the agency wants housing associations to commit to a minimum of 1,000 additional grant-funded affordable homes started on site by March 2022, as well as a 25% increase in the building of affordable homes and across homes of all tenures.
Associations will also have to commit to an absolute position of no grant funding being used on building homes agreed under Section 106, a guarantee that homes will be started on site by March 2022 and completed by 2024, and “a proportion” of social rent to be delivered in local authorities with high affordability stress.
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Sir Edward Lister, chair of Homes England, said: “We are now pressing ahead with a second wave of deals and I am calling on housing associations, who can commit to significantly increasing their development programmes across all tenures to get involved.”
The letter added that Homes England is working on a different method of grant funding more suitable for housing associations that are not interested in strategic partnerships.
It said: “This would enable the flexibilities to be accessed on a scheme-by-scheme basis by ambitious partners proactively engaging with the programme and with a strong track record for delivery.”
David Orr, chief executive of the NHF, added: “The National Housing Federation and Homes England have worked very closely together to develop this new wave of strategic partnerships.
“They represent a fantastic opportunity for housing associations to boost their development programmes, helping to meet their ambition to deliver thousands of much-needed new homes.”
Homes England and NHF are holding a briefing event on 10 September at Savills’ offices in London for any organisations interested in the second wave of partnerships.
Update: at 16.42 on 21.8.18 This story was updated to include a reference to the briefing.
