Homes England has chosen City of Wolverhampton Council as the first local authority in the country to pilot the delivery of a new Affordable Homes Programme.

Aimed at accelerating the delivery of new council homes, the scheme will provide access to a dedicated Government funding portfolio of around £19.7million, enabling the council to start works over the next two years on delivering 200 homes across 11 sites in the city.

The homes will see a mixture of 1,2,3 and 4-bedroom houses, flats and bungalows for affordable and social rent. 

The proposal also includes 67 bungalows – all adaptable, and some wheelchair-adapted in response to identified local need from residents.

The scheme will see council housing developed on new sites and existing homes that have poor thermal efficiency and are of poor quality or non-traditional construction will be replaced.

Replacing these homes will have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of local communities. 

City of Wolverhampton Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “This additional financial certainty will allow us to accelerate the future delivery of affordable housing provision in the city.

“One of our key priorities is to build new and better homes for local people in well-connected neighbourhoods across the city.

“This pilot will deliver new homes that will mean residents and the wider community benefit from improved health outcomes, lifestyle and sustainability.”

Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing Grants at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives. We’re committed to supporting Wolverhampton City Council to achieve their ambitions through this innovative pilot scheme ahead of the new Affordable Homes Programme.

“This new way of working is another example of how the agency works collaboratively with local authorities to achieve our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”