Bolton Council has welcomed today’s government announcement outlining major national plans to expand the supply of social and affordable homes
The package forms part of the government’s long‑term strategy to boost housing provision and improve safety, energy efficiency and living conditions for residents in both social and privately rented homes.
Nationally, the government has set out ambitions to deliver around 300,000 new social and affordable homes as part of the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme, with at least 60% of new properties intended for social rent linked to local incomes.
Bolton Council is already well‑positioned to take advantage of the additional support announced today, including being a direct beneficiary of the Council Housebuilding Support Fund we are using as part of our ambitious plans to expand the pipeline of genuinely affordable housing.
Alongside increasing supply, the announcement confirms plans to strengthen the Decent Homes Standard and implement Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards across the social housing sector.
The strengthened standards and increased national investment will support local programmes already underway to upgrade existing stock and work with housing providers to deliver new, high‑quality properties across the borough.
Councillor Sean Fielding, Executive Member for Adults and Community Housing at Bolton Council, said:
“We welcome the government’s renewed focus on building more high quality, affordable and energy‑efficient homes for families who need them most.
“Today’s measures, including the strengthened Decent Homes Standard, new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, and the funding and flexibilities announced for councils and housing providers, will support our efforts to improve housing quality and increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes across Bolton.
“Bolton Council will continue to review the detail of the government’s plans as further guidance is issued and will work closely with local partners to ensure that households across the borough benefit from these new national commitments.”