The government has announced the first wave of funding from the £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

The Prime Minister and Housing Secretary have announced nearly £10 billion of allocations to build thousands more quality council, social and affordable homes.

The first wave of funding will support the delivery of more than 70,000 homes across England. This is the first stage of a ten-year programme.

£2 billion of the funding will be spent in Mayoral areas outside of London.

It will go to 33 Strategic Partners, including councils, housing associations and other providers.

Alongside housing associations, councils will be awarded Strategic Partner status with Homes England. Around 60 per cent of homes delivered through these partnerships are expected to be for Social Rent.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "No child should be raised in a hostel room and no family should wait ten years for a front door of their own. I have said from my first day in this job that everything starts with a good home.

"Nearly £10 billion will go to councils and housing associations to build genuinely affordable homes, most of them for social rent, in the places where families are waiting longest.

"Councils built this country out of a housing crisis once before. Backed properly, and trusted to get on with it, they will do it again."

Secretary of State Angela Rayner said: "Families can’t be left raising children without a place to call home, and none of us should spend years waiting for somewhere safe and affordable to live.

"I know how important fixing this is – because I’ve been there. A safe and secure home was the foundation for a better life - I couldn’t have got to where I have today without it.

"That’s why the Prime Minister and I are doing everything we can to get councils building once again – it’s fundamental to turning the housing crisis around, helping families out of temporary accommodation and into a secure home."