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National Affordable Housing Programme 2008-2011 Funding for new social housing is worth £8.4billion under the Housing Corporation's three-year National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) 2008-2011. This is expected to produce 45,000 social homes a year, by 2010/11. First Phase On 26th February 2008, the Housing Corporation announced the first phase of allocations for the 2008-11 NAHP. This initial tranche of funding totals £3.3billion of grant - including new allocations and existing commitments. Of the new allocations, £1.8billion has been awarded for new build homes for affordable rent and affordable sale and will be shared between 105 successful bidders. The first phase of allocations only represents 38 per cent of the three-year NAHP programme, with the remaining £5.1billion yet to be allocated.
Second Pre-qualification Round The second pre-qualification round, which allowed housing providers that had not yet secured partnering status to apply to become investment partners, closed in April 2008. Next Allocation Phases The next phase of allocations are due to be announced in October 2008, with further allocations made either quarterly or six monthly from October 2008 – October 2010, (or until all funds are fully committed.) The organisations bidding for the next phases of NAHP funding will include all existing Investment Partners, plus any new partners from the second pre-qualification round.
New Building Regulations - Zero Carbon Targets Domestic carbon emissions represent over 25 per cent of the UK's total carbon emissions. In the consultation - Building a Greener Future, Communities and Local Government (CLG) proposed a target of ensuring that all new homes emit zero carbon by 2016. The target is seen as a major step towards the goal of reducing overall carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. These targets have now been confirmed and as such there needs to be progressive changes to building regulations in order to achieve the 25 per cent and 44 per cent improvements in energy efficiency in 2010 and 2013, respectively. The 2016 Taskforce will be working with CLG to ensure that all necessary action is now implemented by the energy suppliers, building industry, building product manufacturers and all public bodies involved.
Eco-Towns Initiative Eco-towns are new towns which are “green developments” of between 5,000 to 20,000 homes. They will be designed to meet the highest standards of sustainability, including low and zero carbon technologies and good public transport. In September 2007, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced that he is to double the number of eco-towns from five to 10, with at least one in every region. A timescale has been set of five new eco-towns by 2016 and another five by 2020. The Government received over 57 applications to be eco-towns and has now short listed 15 potential sites. The short listed sites have now been asked to submit a more detailed bid, with an announcement of the ten sites the Government intends to support through the planning process expected by February, 2009.
England Housing Green Paper - New Housing Targets The Government has set a new housing target for 2016 of 240,000 additional homes a year (an increase from the 200,000 target in the Kate Barker review) to meet growing demand and address affordability issues. The proposals are expected to see around two million new homes built by 2016 and three million new homes by 2020.
Scotland Housing Green Paper On 31st October 2007, a discussion paper was released relating to social housing provision across Scotland. This Housing Green Paper: Firm Foundations - The Future of Housing in Scotland outlined plans designed to reform housing provision across Scotland.
Focal Research summary of the Scotland Housing Green Paper