Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook MP has written to the social housing sector announcing that the groundbreaking £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme is now open for bids.

He says in the letter:

“Taken together with the Spending Review package, we have now provided a decade of certainty across grant funding, rents, regulatory standards and clear ambitions for the sector. We are asking providers to take the next step now via bidding for SAHP to translate this certainty into ambitious delivery plans.

“By working together, we can ensure this becomes a reality: investing in existing homes so they are safe, decent and warm, and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable homes in a generation. I look forward to continuing to work closely with you as we deliver a decade of renewal.”

You can read the full letter here.

The NHC warmly welcomes the new programme, which will enable members to plan the development of new homes with confidence and deliver the social and affordable homes that our communities desperately need.

We have worked closely with the Government and have consistently highlighted the importance of a long-term programme which prioritises social rent and includes flexibility on regeneration. We have put forward the case for greater devolution to make sure it meets local priorities and enables housing providers to collaborate on delivery through housing partnerships.

The Government has listened and the new programme – 70 per cent of which will delivered outside of London – picks up on the needs of the North. Some major changes include more funding for social rent – 60 per cent of the total fund – and greater support for regeneration. The grounds by which ‘additionality’ can be demonstrated have been  significantly expanded, and the new SAHP can fund a limited number of property acquisitions for regeneration purposes.

The new programme will be aligned to local priorities to a much greater extent. Each Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSAs) will be able to set the strategic direction of the SAHP in their areas and establish programme priorities, including the types of property, tenure and individual sites that should be prioritised. In the North this will apply to Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire combined authorities.

Our briefing on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme prospectus can be viewed here. The prospectus provides further detail around how the fund will be delivered now that bidding is open.

The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) – the membership body for the social housing sector across the North of England – has been awarded the Better Health at Work Award in the Continuing Excellence category, as the organisation marks its 51^st year.

The Continuing Excellence award reflects the NHC’s focus on being one of the very best places to work in the region. The NHC, encompassing NHC Procurement, first achieved the Bronze award in 2022, swiftly followed by Silver in 2023 and Gold in 2024.

The award recognises employers that take a proactive, evidence-based approach to health and wellbeing at work, embedding good practice into everyday workplace culture. The NHC is now part of a select group of organisations that have achieved Continuing Excellence for their commitment to employee wellbeing.

Tracy Harrison, Chief Executive of the NHC, said:

“This award is something we’re incredibly proud of because it reflects our focus on people. We want the NHC to be a place where people feel supported, valued and able to be their best at work. Achieving Continuing Excellence shows that our focus on wellbeing isn’t a one-off or a tick-box exercise, but a core part of who we are, making the NHC a great place to work and attracting and retaining talented people.”

Wellbeing at the NHC is shaped by colleagues themselves through a staff-led wellbeing group, which has grown into a central part of the organisation. The wellbeing group works collaboratively, helping to identify workplace wellbeing priorities and forming strategies to achieve these.

Kay Wiseman, Head of HR and Wellbeing at the NHC, said:

“From mental health and financial wellbeing to fitness, nutrition and first aid, we’ve focused on creating practical, inclusive initiatives that genuinely support everyday life.

“When people feel better, they’re happier, more productive, and the whole organisation benefits. The results speak for themselves, with a third of our staff with us for over ten years, and our headcount growing by over 30% in the last three years alone.”

Over the past year, the NHC’s internal wellbeing campaigns have included group activities, expert speakers, health checks, budgeting support and hands-on opportunities to build first-aid skills.

All colleagues also have access to mental health first aiders, an employee assistance programme and a dedicated wellbeing portal offering gym membership discounts, information on health services and 24-hour mental health support. A corporate flu jab scheme was also introduced in 2025 to further support staff health and wellbeing.

Better Health at Work assessors praised the NHC’s leadership and culture, noting a “comprehensive and proactive approach to workforce health, safety and wellbeing”. The NHC is now working towards achieving Maintaining Excellence in 2026, continuing to build on its wellbeing programmes as part of its wider people strategy.

Tracy Harrison added:

“We’re ambitious about the future, not just in the work we do across the northern housing sector, but in the kind of employer we want to be. Recognition like this helps us tell that story and reinforces our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive and rewarding place to work.”

Those interested in career opportunities at the NHC should visit the LinkedIn page for upcoming vacancies.