Affordable housing
What is affordable housing?
Affordable housing helps people who are unable to afford to buy on the open market or to rent private housing. Affordable housing is sometimes called ‘social housing’.
This includes:
- Homes for rent: both social rent and affordable rent
- Shared Ownership: part rent, part buy
New affordable homes
New affordable homes can be delivered directly by a council or housing associations. When a council provides homes, these are known as new council owned homes. Housing associations are also called registered providers (RPs).
Where new rented homes are delivered by housing associations, the properties will be advertised via Homesearch. These are available to housing register applicants.
Prospective purchasers interested in shared ownership properties should contact the provider directly. Find out more about the Government’s eligibility checker and search tool for providers.
Working in partnership
We have worked in partnership with a number of housing associations over the years to deliver affordable housing. We continue to do so, but opportunities have declined in recent years.
A number of schemes are currently on site or have recently been completed:
| Site | Registered Provider | Tenure | Scheme details | Expected completion | Link if available |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary Quay, Phase 6, Woolston | Sage | Affordable rent | Four three-bed houses | Completed October 2024 | - |
| Centenary Quay, Phase 6, Woolston | Sage | Affordable rent | 39 flats | Completed November 2024 | - |
| Land to the rear of 80 Shirley Road (Southern House) | Vivid | Social rent | 14 units | Houses completed October 2024, flats completed December 2024 | - |
| Former Eastpoint site, Thornhill | Vivid | Social rent | 21 three-bed houses, 78 two-bed flats, 29 one-bed flats | April 2025 through to December 2025 | - |
We are disposing of some of our sites to selected RPs. This is via the Affordable Housing Framework. We are doing this to increase the amount of affordable housing being delivered in Southampton.
Information for developers in respect of s106 sites
Please view our Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document.
You can also contact our Housing Development Officer to discuss plans and requirements:
- Name: Diana Hudson
- Email: diana.hudson@southampton.gov.uk
