The government has announced a £21.8 million funding package to help councils build affordable homes.

The Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF) is designed to help local authorities build the skills, capacity and partnerships needed to develop strong bids for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP).  

Councils can apply for funding to support: knowledge and skills development; housing pipeline development; pre-development and enabling activities; partnership working; and additional staffing capacity. 

Bidding is open from 21 September to 2 November and funding decisions will be made from December 2026, with further bidding rounds in April 2027 and 2028. 

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: "Councils will be at the heart of the biggest housebuilding revival in decades, but we know many lack the capacity and expertise to turn plans into reality.

"This funding will help councils build the skills, capacity and partnerships needed to make the most of our historic £39 billion investment.  

"By putting councils back in the driving seat, we’re helping more families find a safe, secure place they can call home."

Shahi Islam, Director of Affordable Housing at Homes England, said: "The Council Housebuilding Support Fund is a strong example of how Homes England is enabling locally led housing delivery and helping councils unlock more affordable homes for their communities.

"We will continue to lead engagement with councils, manage the application process and make investment recommendations to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), helping local authorities turn housing ambitions into deliverable projects funded by SAHP."