By Stephen Sharman, Director of Member Services
The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme for 2026 to 2036 is a major milestone for the sector, delivering 300,000 new homes. As a procurement consortium that provides development solutions, we are already thinking about what it means for our members. So how can CHIC support housing providers to make the most of the opportunity?
A decade of stability for development plans
A ten year programme gives social landlords the breathing space they need to plan development more strategically. It will help shape long term delivery pipelines, taking decisions with confidence on land acquisition, planning and building longer term relationships with contractors and consultants. From a procurement perspective it lets us help you map out the right commercial strategies over several years, rather than reacting scheme by scheme.
Strong focus on social rent
At least sixty percent of homes delivered through this programme must be for social rent. This aligns closely with the needs we hear from members every day. The pressure on affordability is real and this programme gives providers a better chance to bring forward schemes that have the greatest social impact.
Open to a wide range of organisations
The programme welcomes housing providers of all sizes along with local authorities, community groups and specialist organisations. This matters for a consortium like CHIC because we work with a diverse group of members. Our role is to make sure every organisation, whatever its size or experience, can access the support needed to submit a strong and confident bid.
Choosing the right route to funding
There are two main ways to engage:
- Continuous Market Engagement for flexible, individual schemes.
- Strategic Partnerships for larger and more consistent programmes.
We will help members understand what each route demands and what it means for procurement, planning and risk management.
What Homes England will expect
Homes England will be looking for deliverable schemes, strong design standards and clear value for money. They want real confidence that providers can secure land, achieve planning consent and manage costs effectively. Through CHIC frameworks and our procurement expertise we can help you assemble the right consultants, suppliers and contractors to evidence this.
How CHIC will support providers
We will translate the programme into practical steps. We have a comprehensive Newbuild Framework, proving a whole range of consultancy, contractor and MMC solutions. We will guide members on procurement strategies, provide a compliant and competitive route to market, support partnership development and share insight across our membership. Most importantly, we will be a steady hand for providers who may not have the in house capacity to navigate a programme of this scale.
Looking ahead
This programme is a chance to deliver more homes, better homes and homes that truly meet local needs. As a procurement consortium we see our role as enabling members to focus on development while we take care of the commercial and compliance challenges. We are ready to help you turn this long term funding into real delivery for your communities.
