One of the shared challenges facing our cities and towns is housing. According to the Key Cities report, Turbocharging Housebuilding in Cities and Urban Areas, nearly 90% of Key Cities members said that the shortage of affordable and social housing in their area is either ‘critical' or ‘extremely critical'.
Against that backdrop, the Government's announcement of the Social and Affordable Housing Programme (SAHP), backed by £39bn over the next decade, is welcome news. The latest round of funding allocates around £10bn to strategic partners to deliver 70,000 affordable homes. This approach reflects the principles of devolution, local delivery and economic growth that councils have long championed. The requirement that at least 60% of SAHP homes are delivered at social rent also demonstrates a clear commitment to affordability and to supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, including older and disabled residents.
