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.
For Housing has secured a place in government history as the first North West provider to win funding from the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) 2026–36, yet the organisation is refusing to answer the most basic question about its award: how much money did it receive?
On paper, the deal looks straightforward. The landlord has pledged to deliver 185 homes, including 173 for social rent, across five schemes. The first 49 will rise on the former Lion pub site in Cadishead, where planning permission was granted in April. Homes England caps grants for non‑strategic partners at £250m, but For Housing will not confirm whether its award sits anywhere near that figure.
It’s an unusual silence for a sector built on public subsidy. And it raises a sharper question: what is For Housing trying to avoid by keeping the number under wraps – its public money!
I have some sympathy for For Housing , but appreciate that it opens debate about cost efficiency / value for money / how are they making the numbers stack etc. However, if you are efficient, you should have nothing to hide.
By Steve5839
I suspect that the grant isn’t publicised to avoid other RPs from gaming their numbers to maximise grant levels on other schemes.
By Anonymous
Steve5839 – life isn’t one big conspiracy, I think you need to get out more.
By Anonymous
Hi June 01, 2026 at 9:00 pm By Anonymous– there’s no conspiracy here, just a call for greater openness. I understand why details might not be disclosed, and it’s reasonable to explain that clearly. That said, the waste, inefficiency and occasional vanity I’ve seen in some quangos is striking. Anyone who has worked in the sector will likely recognise this too.
By Anonymous