Homes England releases first tranche of £39bn SAHP cash
ForHousing is the first in the North West to be awarded funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026-36, pledging to use its successful bid to deliver 185 homes in Salford.
Of these homes, 173 are due to be made available for social rent – in line with the Homes England’s programme requirement to deliver at least 60% social rent properies. The remaining 12 will be shared ownership.
The first 49 of these residences will be built on the former Lion pub site off Green Lane in Cadishead. Planning permission for the scheme was granted in April to Breck Homes, which will build the residences for ForHousing to operate. The planning application reference for the scheme is PA/2025/0171 on Salford City Council’s planning portal.
ForHousing declined to share the exact amount it had been awarded from SAHP. Grant awards from the programme are capped at £250m for non strategic partners.
The registered provider did state that the money from SAHP would go towards five upcoming projects, including the one in Cadishead. ForHousing currently owns more than 19,000 across the North West and has ambitions to build more than 700 between now and 2028.
ForHousing executive director of investment and growth Clare Tostevin said: “These first five schemes represent a significant step forward in delivering our homes strategy and addressing housing need across Salford. We’re looking forward to getting started and seeing these developments make a real difference to our communities.”
Shahi Islam, director of affordable housing grants at Homes England, said: “Partnerships like this are central to our mission to increase the supply of affordable housing where it’s most needed, supporting local priorities and creating sustainable communities for the future.”
ForHousing owns and manages more than 19,000 homes across the North West.
The £39bn, 10-year SAHP programme was announced last autumn and was accepting submissions up to 15 April. The response from registered providers, local authorities, and developers was immense, with the programme described as being oversubscribed by housing secretary Steve Reed.
“It shows you the pent-up demand that there is,” Reed told a crowd at UKREiiF in May.
It is worth noting that while the programme has a budget of £39bn, £11.7bn is dedicated to Greater London.
