Apply to the Council Housebuilding Support Fund
Submit a proposal for funding from the Council Housebuilding Support Fund.
Applies to England
The Council Housebuilding Support Fund is overseen by Homes England.
What can be funded
The fund is designed to support councils to prepare and submit bids for grant funding to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme more quickly and at a bigger scale than previously possible.
It will support councils to:
- deliver more new affordable homes (directly or in partnership with registered providers or developers)
- develop plans that maximise the number of homes delivered for social rent
- ensure regional affordable housing priorities are delivered (in an established mayoral combined authority area) wherever possible
Applications should show how proposals will better equip them to be able to bring forward bids for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme from April 2026 onwards.
Applications could include proposals for activities or projects including:
- knowledge development — such as training and upskilling staff, improving knowledge and understanding of process and bidding for the Affordable Homes Programme from 2026 onwards
- pipeline development — such as commissioning studies to identify a long list of deliverable sites or developing delivery strategies to unlock already-identified sites
- pre-development and enabling work — such as technical expertise and support to bring forward sites and secure planning permission
- partnership working — such as supporting engagement, co-ordination and joint working opportunities with registered providers and developers
- additional staffing — such as interim staff, project managers, and consultants that bring relevant technical expertise
What cannot be funded
The fund cannot support applications for funding where proposals include:
- costs that can be capitalised to the project that they relate
- costs that can be funded through other means (such as proposals where council resources have already been allocated)
- funding that would cover day-to-day expenditure (applications to cover staff or consultants must show how the work they will be doing relates to new activity)
Who should apply
Funding from the Council Housebuilding Support Fund is available to all councils in England (outside of London).
We particularly encourage applications from:
-
councils already delivering through the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026 who, with additional support, could increase the number of new affordable homes delivered
-
councils close to delivering through the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026 and with additional support could submit ambitious new proposals
-
councils exploring partnerships with registered providers and developers, who, with additional support, could speed up or increase delivery
Available funding
£5.5 million in funding is available until 31 March 2026.
Councils can submit a single proposal up to a maximum of £300,000. A proposal can cover multiple activities.
How to apply
Your application should evidence how your proposal aligns with the overall objectives of the fund. It should show a clear link between proposed activities and your ability to create ambitious and high quality bids to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme from 2026 onwards.
Find out about assessment criteria for the Council Housebuilding Support Fund.
Applications open on 3 July 2025.
Applications close at 11.59pm on 22 August 2025 (or when the funding is fully committed, which may be sooner).
You can apply online. You will be unable to save your progress, so we recommend that you have all your information prepared in advance. This service is hosted on Microsoft Forms.
Data you provide is used to administer the fund and is subject to the Homes England privacy notice.
After you’ve applied
Applications will be assessed as they are submitted.
Find out about the assessment criteria for the Council Housebuilding Support Fund.
We will contact you using the email address provided when you applied. You will hear from us from September 2025 whether you have been successful or not.
Information for successful applicants
Successful applicants will be expected to enter into a standard form of grant funding arrangement with payments paid in stages after specified milestones are delivered.
Funding will only be available until 31 March 2026.
Monitoring arrangements will be put in place and an evaluation undertaken at the end of the fund.
Read guidance for successful applicants to the Council Housebuilding Support Fund to find out more.
How to get help
If you:
- experience any issues with this service
- have questions about the fund
- have questions about the application process
you can email CHSF@homesengland.gov.uk.
You can also discuss proposals before applying with The Homes England Affordable Housing Growth Team. Regional contacts are listed here.
North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and North West
Graham Brookfield
graham.brookfield@homesengland.gov.uk
Midlands
Steven Parkin
steven.parkin@homesengland.gov.uk
South East
Nick Enge
South West
Colin Barns
Updates to this page
-
The Affordable Homes Programme is now known as the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
-
A link to the application form has been added.
-
First published.