Housebuilder the first private sector player to get significant HCA funding

Housebuilder Galliford Try has become the first major builder to receive Homes and Communities Agency grant to build houses under the government Affordable Rent scheme.

Galliford will receive grant of £17m, to build almost 1,500 homes, mostly situated in the South and the Midlands.

The award comes alongside agreements between the HCA and seven further housing associations to build homes for affordable rent and low cost home ownership. The latest awards will see WM Housing, Tees Valley Housing, Somer Community Housing Trust, Local space, First choice Homes Oldham, Family Mosaic and Bromford housing association share £101m to build 5,343 houses.

The awards bring the total value of the contracts signed to date to over £1.4bn, with the programme ultimately set to distribute £1.8bn of fuding.