Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6386 on Affordable Housing, whether the social rent homes target in the 2021-26 Affordable Housing Programme has increased since 9 September 2024.

As set out in the Deputy Prime Minister’s statement made on 30 July 2024 (HCSW48), we have asked Homes England and the Greater London Authority to maximise the number of Social Rent homes in allocating the remaining Affordable Homes Programme funding. The programme targets for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme remain as set out in our update on 30 July.

At the Budget the Chancellor announced an immediate injection of £500 million into this Programme. This will support delivery of up to 5,000 additional homes and bidding is already open to local authorities and other social landlords. I have asked Homes England and the GLA to prioritise social rent homes in assessing those bids and allocating this funding.