Community Housing Fund – Parliamentary Written Answer

Anthony Mangnall: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will extend the Community Housing Fund for a further five years.

Christopher Pincher: The Community Housing Fund closed at the end of March. Ministers are considering all budgets in the round and allocations for 2020/21 will be confirmed at Main Estimates later in the Spring. Allocations for future years will be considered at the next Spending Review.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-04-24/39747

Less Than 15% Of £163m Community Housing Fund Allocated As Deadline Looms

Just £21.1m of the government’s £163m Community Housing Fund has been allocated less than a month before the deadline for bids passes. As of 4 December, 194 applications had been successfully allocated a share of the fund, while nine were unsuccessful and 81 were still pending decisions. According to data obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, the biggest share of funding went to housing co-operative Homes for Wells with £584,433, followed by £570,000 for Peak District Rural Housing Association and £535,000 for Bristol City Council. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/less-than-15-of-163m-community-housing-fund-allocated-as-deadline-looms-64464?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Community Housing Fund – Parliamentary Written Answer

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will extend the Community Housing Fund to beyond March 2020; and if he will make a statement. 

Esther McVey: The Community Housing Fund is currently scheduled to close in March 2020. Ministers are considering all budgets in the round and allocations will be announced following a business planning exercise later in the year.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-10-14/172

Government’s £300m Community Housing Fund Faces ‘Serious Under Allocation’

A £300m government programme for community-led housing could be “seriously under allocated” with homes left unfinished if it is not extended, the National Community Land Trust (CLT) Network has warned. The Community Housing Fund was expected to be worth £60m annually for five years when first announced in 2016, but will actually run for just 18 months. The fund was unveiled by David Cameron’s government at the 2016 spring Budget. However, the bidding did not open until July 2018 and will close at the end of 2019 – with all awarded funding needing to be spent by March 2020. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/governments-300m-community-housing-fund-faces-serious-under-allocation-60157?utm_source=Housing60&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article_link&utm_campaign=H60

Homes England Launches Phase Two Of Community Housing Fund

Phase Two of the Community Housing Fund is launched by Homes England making £163m available for affordable homes across England. The fund is for community-led groups to drive forward ambitions for delivering new affordable housing schemes. Phase One of the fund was launched in July, supporting applications for capacity building, pre-development revenue funding and capital funding for local infrastructure projects. Phase Two bidding is now open for capital grants to fund the costs of acquiring land and building community-led housing schemes. The fund aims to give local people a leading and lasting role in delivering local affordable housing. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/homes-england-launches-phase-two-of-community-housing-fund/

Brokenshire Goes Public With New Housing Proposals

The government is ready to release £450m to speed up delivery of homes on sites of surplus public sector land and encouraging pace and modern methods of construction as a part of the building process. But such funding will no longer be able to use the money for ‘unjustified’ new leasehold houses. Announced by communities secretary, James Brokenshire, other measures include the new proposals for three-year minimum tenancy term and the launch of a new £100m Community Housing Fund, to deliver affordable housing tailored to local needs, putting communities in the driving seat. Read the full statement on the Parliament website.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-07-02/HCWS818

Boost To Housebuilding In Areas Dominated By Second Homes

The government is to provide £60m to boost affordable housing in council areas most affected by second homeownership. Money will be provided to 148 councils after the CLG announced regional allocations under the Community Housing Fund. The money is intended to provide backing for local housing groups to deliver homes aimed at first-time buyers. One third of the funding – almost £20m – will be allocated directly to local authorities in the south west of England as this is the most popular region for second homes in the country. It accounts for 21% of all second homeownership, according to the government. Read more on the Public Finance website.