Section 106 to maximise social housing

Almost 300 organisations throughout England have enrolled in the new Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service to help boost its delivery. More than 70 house builders have registered to give the details of the affordable homes that they have been given planning permission to build, alongside private homes that don’t yet have a buyer.

These housebuilders will join the 140 Registered Providers (GPs) and more than 70 Local Authorities (LAs) who have already registered for the service as potential buyers. Registered users and sellers and urged to continue their support by providing details like site location, construction progress, and number of homes.

The aim of the service, created and managed by Homes England, is that it will play its part in facilitating and accelerating the sale of uncontracted and unsold affordable homes across England, not including London.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said: “We recognise the challenge posed by the reduced appetite of registered providers of social housing to buy affordable homes delivers under section 106 agreements.

“The new clearing service we have worked in partnership with Homes England to establish will help improve the functioning of the market and unblock the delivery of section 106 affordable housing.

“Hundreds of developers and providers have already come forward to engage with this new service and real progress is being made as a result."

Councillor Adam Hug, LGA housing spokesperson said: “Councils urgently want to deliver more affordable housing including those affordable homes agreed in Section 106 agreements with developers in local planning applications.

“This service is a positive step to promoting stalled sites to registered providers of affordable housing, and the LGA encourages all local authorities to engage with it. Bu tit is just one tool which will help bring forward more affordable housing. Much more needs to be done.”