National Affordable Housing Programme
The National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) is increasing the supply of affordable homes in England.
From 2008-11, the Homes and Communities Agency will invest £8.4bn in affordable housing through the NAHP. The programme’s development partners will deliver 155,000 new homes and each year, a proportion of the homes built will be made available for low cost home ownership and social rent.
How the programme works
Before applying for funding, housing providers must first be awarded Investment Partner status through the pre-qualification process. There have been two pre-qualification rounds to date and 143 providers have received Investment Partner accreditation. We are now also accepting new applications for pre-qualification.
Housing providers that meet certain requirements are exempted from the pre-qualification process and can instead bid for funding through the Specialist Provision route. Specialist Provision criteria include providing homes in rural communities, black and minority ethnic housing provision, supported housing and environmental innovation.
Further information on both routes is available in the NAHP prospectus.
Bidding Process
Investment Partners and organisations that meet Specialist Provision requirements can bid for funding through the Investment Management System.
The NAHP prospectus provides essential information for bidders, whether applying through the Investment Partner or Specialist Provision route.
Capital Funding Guide
The Affordable Housing Capital Funding Guide (CFG) contains the rules and procedures for housing associations that have received capital grants/allocations from the HCA (formerly the Housing Corporation).
Shared Ownership: Joint Guidance
The Shared Ownership: Joint Guidance provides information for staff and professionals working in shared ownership on a range of issues.
The guidance draws together existing guidance from Corporation circulars and the Affordable Housing Capital Funding Guide, from the Council of Mortgage Lenders members' handbook, and good practice advice from the National Housing Federation.
Shared Ownership: Joint Guidance - PDF (235 KB)
Section 106 Planning Agreements and LCHO Lending
This Guidance note has been prepared by the CML to help local authorities and housing associations understand the issues that arise for lenders when section 106 (s106) agreements or other planning controls are used that contain restrictive or variation clauses.
Section 106 Planning Agreements and LCHO lending - PDF (110 KB)
Last updated: 19 October 2009