BSRIA has welcomed government plans to launch a multi-billion pound funding package aimed at tackling the housing crisis.
The fund, which will be administered through the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), will offer loans to developers across the residential sector, including the private rented sector, and will be aimed primarily at SMEs and developers using modular construction.
The government is currently considering whether to launch a fresh fund or increase the £3bn Home Building Fund – announced by then chancellor George Osborne in the Budget in March and confirmed in the Queen’s Speech – to £5bn. The fund is intended to support the construction of between 160,000 and 200,000 homes.
The aim was to boost the numbers of homes of all occupation types, including starter homes, intermediate rent and market rent.
Chris Knights, general manager at BSRIA, said: “Any incentive which continues to boost housebuilding is welcomed by BSRIA. The country is crying out for more houses – in all shapes and forms. The fund marks a shift in the government’s stance to expansion in that government is now keen to take on more financial risk to challenge the housing crisis than ever.”
