Council Housebuilding Support Fund: How to apply

The Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF) is overseen by Homes England.

What can be funded

The fund is designed to support councils to prepare and submit bids for grant funding to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) more quickly and at a bigger scale than would otherwise be possible.

It supports councils to:

• deliver more new affordable homes (directly or in partnership with registered providers or developers)
• develop plans that maximise the number of homes delivered for social rent
• ensure regional and place-based affordable housing priorities are delivered (in an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) area) wherever possible

Applications should show how proposals will strengthen the council’s ability to be able to bring forward bids for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) including by increasing the scale, quality or pace of future delivery.

Applications could include proposals for activities or projects including:

• knowledge development — such as training and upskilling staff, improving knowledge and understanding of process and bidding for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme
• pipeline development — such as commissioning studies to identify a long list of deliverable sites or developing delivery strategies to unlock identified sites
• pre-development and enabling work — such as technical expertise and support to bring forward sites and secure planning permission
• partnership working — such as supporting engagement, co-ordination and joint working opportunities with registered providers and developers
• additional staffing — such as interim staff, project managers, and consultants that bring relevant technical expertise

What cannot be funded

The fund cannot support applications for funding where proposals include:

• costs that have already been incurred
• activities that have already taken place
• costs that can be capitalised to the project that they relate
• costs that can be funded through other means (such as proposals where council resources have already been allocated)
• funding that would cover day-to-day expenditure (applications to cover staff or consultants must show how the work they will be doing relates to new activity)
• business-as-usual costs such as activity that would have already taken place

Who should apply

Funding from the Council Housebuilding Support Fund is available to all councils in England (outside of London).

We particularly encourage applications from:

• councils already delivering through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme who, with additional support, could increase the number of new affordable homes delivered
• councils close to delivering through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme and with additional support could submit ambitious new proposals
• councils exploring partnerships with private registered providers and developers, who, with additional support, could speed up or increase delivery

We welcome collaborative approaches and applicants should explain any partnership arrangements within their application. Where councils are working with other councils, an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA) or other partners, applications should only be submitted by the relevant eligible council or councils.

Capacity to Build is actively considering how best to work with EMSAs, including how they may apply for funding directly in future.

Available funding

£21.8 million in funding is available until 31 March 2029, split evenly across each of the 3 financial years.

Councils can submit a1 single proposal upin toeach aapplication maximumwindow. ofThe £300,000maximum infunding eachavailable offor thean 3individual years.proposal Ais proposal£300,000. Proposals can coverinclude multipleeligible activities.activity spanning more than one financial year, as long as the total funding requested does not exceed £300,000.

A proposal may include eligible activity that spans more than 1 financial year where applicants can demonstrate:

• why this is required
• how it will support future delivery through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme SAHP

Councils who have received funding in an earlier round or rounds of the Council Housebuilding Support Fund can apply for funding in subsequent rounds but must demonstrate that their application will deliver new activities and sites.

How to apply

Your application should evidence how your proposal aligns with the overall objectives of the fund. It should show a clear link between proposed activities and your ability to create ambitious and high-quality bids to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

Find out about assessment criteria for the Council Housebuilding Support Fund. Strong applications will clearly demonstrate value for money, deliverability and strategic fit with the objectives of the fund.

The bidding window will close at 2pm on 2 November 2026.

Future bidding windows are expected to open in April 2027 and April 2028 and information will be provided.

Data you provide is used to administer the fund and is subject to both the:

• Capacity to Build privacy notice
• Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF) privacy notice

After you’ve applied

Applications will be assessed as they are submitted.

Find out about the assessment criteria for the Council Housebuilding Support Fund.

We will contact you using the contact details provided when you submit your bid. You will hear whether you have been successful or not from November 2026.

If your bid is successful

Successful applicants will be expected to enter into a memorandum of understanding with MHCLG, setting out the activities, milestones and reporting requirements associated with the funding.

Funding is expected to be spent in the financial year in which it is awarded. Further information on expenditure profiles, reporting requirements and any arrangements relating to extensions will be set out in the memorandum of understanding.

Monitoring arrangements will be put in place and an evaluation undertaken at the end of the fund. Councils will be required to provide monitoring information on funded activities. Councils may also be asked to contribute to programme evaluation activity.

Read if your bid to the Council Housebuilding Support Fund is successful to find out more.

How to get help

If you:

• have questions about the fund
• have questions about the application process

email CHSF@homesengland.gov.uk.

You can also discuss proposals before applying with your regular contact in Homes England’s Regional Affordable Housing Growth team. If you do not have a regular contact in the team email CHSF@homesengland.gov.uk.