Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations

1.    That Cabinet approves entering into a Grant Funding Agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (trading as ‘Homes England’) in relation to the Affordable Homes Programme (2021-26).

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval for the Council to enter into an Affordable Homes Programme Grant Funding Agreement with Homes England. This would provide the framework for the Council to access essential grant funding which would support the delivery of new Council homes by March 2026.

The principle of the use of external grant funding to support the Programme was set out and approved in the Cabinet report on the Programme in January 2024. A Grant Funding Agreement between the Council and Homes England would act as framework for the Council to access Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) grant funding over a multiyear period. Given the total value of grant awarded to the Council could be for millions of pounds, Cabinet approval was sought to enter into the Agreement.

It was expected that AHP grant funding would be available for Council new build projects, Small Sites Homebuilder Initiative schemes, and potentially market acquisitions. Homes delivered through Section 106 agreements were not eligible for AHP grant. All schemes funded through the AHP had to start on site by 30 September 2025 and be completed by 31 March 2026. This aligned with the Council’s current pipeline of Council-led build and acquisitions activity.

Resolved:-

1.    That Cabinet approves entering into a Grant Funding Agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency (trading as ‘Homes England’) in relation to the Affordable Homes Programme (2021-26).