The government has announced its new grants programme to support the capital costs of developing affordable housing in England. The Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) will run from 2026 to 2036 with a total budget of £39bn – of this, £27.3bn is for delivery outside London via Homes England.
The focus is on new supply, particularly of Social Rent homes, with a target to deliver at least 60% of the homes under the programme as Social Rent, with the remainder available for other tenures including Shared Ownership and Affordable Rent.
Homes England will primarily allocate SAHP funding for the supply of new-build affordable housing, supporting the delivery of:
- general needs homes for rent
- general needs homes for ownership
- specialist and supported housing for older, disabled or vulnerable people
- homes in rural areas
- repurposing empty homes
- traveller pitches
- community-led housing
- regeneration of existing housing estates
- acquisition of market homes for use as affordable housing
Funding will be through two principal routes:
Continuous Market Engagement – funding on a scheme-by-scheme basis for smaller or one-off developments: you can bid at any time during the programme
Strategic Partnerships – bidding rounds for long-term funding for partnerships with ambition, capability and track record of delivering large numbers of new social and affordable homes
Registered providers (not-for-profit and for-profit), local authorities, housebuilders and developers, charities and community-led organisations will be able to apply. Further guidance and information on how to bid will be provided before the programme opens in February 2026.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026 to 2036
Application deadline:
There will be more information when the programme opens in February 2026
Fund description:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/social-and-affordable-homes-programme-2026-to-2036