West Northamptonshire Council has received £300,000 in funding from the Government’s Council Housebuilding Support Fund, the maximum amount available under the scheme. The grant will be used to boost the council’s capacity to deliver more affordable housing projects across the region.
Cllr Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We’re really pleased to have secured the maximum funding available through this programme. This investment will help us strengthen our capacity and expertise so that we can bring forward more affordable homes for local people, faster.
“As demand for affordable homes continues to grow, this funding will play a key role in helping us deliver high-quality, sustainable homes that meet the needs of our residents and communities across West Northamptonshire and is an important step in ensuring we are well prepared to make the most of future Government funding opportunities and deliver the right homes in the right places.”
The national £5.5 million fund, managed by Homes England, was created to help local authorities strengthen their housing delivery teams and prepare for the forthcoming £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme set to launch in 2026. The initiative aims to support councils in identifying land for future schemes, fast-tracking feasibility and design work, and developing expertise through training and recruitment.
West Northamptonshire Council plans to use the funding to build a pipeline of projects by assessing both public and private land for potential development, investing in specialist staff and consultancy services, and enhancing in-house knowledge to accelerate housing delivery. The move forms part of a wider effort by government and local authorities to expand affordable housing capacity nationwide through the Council Housebuilding Skills & Capacity Programme.
