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UK moves ahead with first £10 billion wave of low-rent housing plan
The first phase will fund 70,630 homes, with 60% for social rent and grants split between councils, mayoral authorities and housing partners.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a nearly £10 billion package to build tens of thousands of affordable homes across England, marking the first wave of a new housing initiative.
This investment forms the initial phase of the £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme, which intends to deliver 70,630 homes across England, with 60 per cent of funding supporting social rent.
London will receive at least £6 billion for housebuilding, while six regional mayors will share around £2.5 billion; the government named 33 Strategic Partners including Cambridge City Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, and Newcastle City Council.
The government is overhauling the Right to Buy scheme by extending the minimum tenancy period to 10 years, while new proposals grant regional mayors power to overrule local councils on large developments.
Over 1.3 million households remain on waiting lists for social housing; Shelter chief executive Sarah Elliott welcomed the announcement while warning that "underlying obstacles" still prevent councils from meeting ambitious targets.