More councils across England will be able to advance their affordable housing plans following a £21.8 million injection into the Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF). This revenue funding is accessible until March 2029.
The funding is designed to assist local authorities in developing the necessary skills, capacity, and partnerships to create strong bids for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP). Housing Secretary Angela Rayner stated that this funding will help councils build the expertise needed to utilise the £39 billion investment.
Councils can apply for support in areas such as knowledge and skills development, housing pipeline development, pre-development activities, partnership working, and additional staffing capacity. Bidding for this round is open from 21 September until 2 November, with funding decisions expected from December 2026. Subsequent bidding rounds are scheduled for April 2027 and 2028.
Homes England, the government's housing and regeneration agency, will lead engagement with councils, manage the application process, and make investment recommendations to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This additional investment is part of the government's broader £46 million Capacity to Build support package, announced in August 2026.