Affordable Housing Funding Boost

The Government has announced the regional allocations of the £10.2 billion funding for affordable housing over the next three years.

This money is designed to ensure that 50 per cent more new social housing units will be built in 2010-11 than currently.

The money will be used to improve existing social housing and regeneration projects as well as boosting the supply of social and low-cost housing.

Regional Assemblies will now draw up plans for how the money will be spent. Each region will have at least 15 per cent more to spend on social housing by 2010-ll compared to now as a result of this settlement. In all 110,000 more social homes are expected to be built over the next three years.

Between them London and the South East Region have been allocated just over half the total of funding being provided by the Government.

Planning and housing minister Yvette Cooper said: "We all need to work in partnership to deliver these houses. This increased investment means that housing associations and councils can start planning now for more affordable homes in their area."