Southampton City Council selected for government homebuilding programme
Southampton City Council has been invited to join a government programme that will help it to increase the number of council homes built across the city
The local authority was shortlisted alongside nine other councils from across the UK.
The Council Housebuilding Support Service is a fully funded initiative to boost council-led housebuilding across England that was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, at the Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference last week.
Funded by the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MHCLG), the service will provide councils with tailored access to training, online tools and resources to upskill their housebuilding teams against any identified gaps in their knowledge and/or skills base.
The Council Housebuilding Support Service will also complement the work of the Association of Directors of Housing by creating a peer-to-peer network. This will enable councils to work together more effectively to deliver social and affordable housing schemes.
The nine other councils selected are: Cornwall Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Newcastle City Council, Salford City Council, London Borough of Merton, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Rother District Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, and Wirral Council.
This support will become available to all councils across England. Councils are encouraged to visit the CHoSS webpage and register their interest in the programme.
Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council, said: "I’m delighted that Southampton City Council has been chosen as one of ten councils to join this crucial programme that will help us to increase the number of council homes built in the city. A safe, affordable, and healthy home is the foundation on which happy and successful lives are built.
"The Council Housebuilding Support Service will give us the additional tools to deliver more homes. I’m pleased that we can work with central government and other councils to make our shared ambition a reality."
Councillor Andy Frampton, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations at Southampton City Council, said: "This announcement is great news, as we know there is a need for more decent homes for our residents. Our colleagues in the Housing Service are passionate about delivering more homes for those who need them most, and the Council Housebuilding Service will give them access to key resources, training and peer-to-peer support."
Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the LGA, said: "This new programme comes at a critical time for local government. Councils want to do more to deliver the council houses their communities need, and this initiative will give them the tools, advice and support to do just that.
"The CHoSS programme is a positive step forward in unlocking the potential of councils to drive local housing delivery at scale, and we are pleased to be working with government on this shared ambition."
