The latest Spending Review signals a move towards a long-term vision for housing, with the greater security housing associations need to build more affordable homes.
The main announcements included:
- An ambitious, decade-long Affordable Homes Programme worth £39bn.
- A long-term rent settlement helping housing associations to plan future budgets and invest more in new homes.
- Confirmation of the £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan to help housing associations to tackle fuel poverty and meet net zero targets.
The government also announced that they’re scrapping the Vagrancy Act, a 200-year-old law that makes rough sleeping a criminal offence in England and Wales.
Commenting on the Spending Review Tim Mulvenna, Chief Executive said: “We’re ready and willing to turn this into an opportunity to deliver more homes for people who need them. With roughly 1.3m households on the social housing waiting list in England, we welcome the extra investment in the Affordable Homes Programme to fuel more developments.
“A ten-year rent settlement allows us to plan long-term investments in new homes. This also helps to offer customers some certainty in how their rent may change, enabling them to better manage household budgets.
“We look forward to seeing the government’s long-term housing strategy to match these announcements with a clear, plan for the future.”
