'We want new, better homes for local people': Wolverhampton chosen for pilot to accelerate building of new council homes

Intended to accelerate the delivery of new council homes, the new Affordable Homes Programme will provide access to a dedicated Government funding portfolio of around £19.7 million, enabling the council to start works over the next two years on building 200 homes across 11 sites in the city.

The homes will be a mixture of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, flats and bungalows for affordable and social rent.

The council aims to develop new sites for housing, while existing homes with poor thermal efficiency and of poor quality or non-traditional construction will be replaced.

Council bosses say replacing these homes will have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of communities.

Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for city housing, said: “One of our key priorities is to build new and better homes for local people in well-connected neighbourhoods across the city.

“This pilot will deliver new homes that will mean residents and the wider community benefit from improved health outcomes, lifestyle and sustainability.”

He said the additional financial certainty brought by the scheme will allow the council to "accelerate the future delivery of affordable housing provision in the city".

Shahi Islam, director of affordable housing grants at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives. We’re committed to supporting Wolverhampton Council to achieve their ambitions through this innovative pilot scheme ahead of the new Affordable Homes Programme.

“This new way of working is another example of how the agency works collaboratively with local authorities to achieve our mission to build much needed new communities that people can be proud to call home.”

As part of the scheme 67 bungalows will be adaptable, with some wheelchair-adapted in response to identified needs from residents.

Construction got under way earlier this summer to build 99 new energy-efficient council bungalows on the Lincoln Green Estate, Bushbury, where 93 post-war prefabs are being replaced as part of the council's strategy to identify solutions for 4,100 homes built by outdated, non-traditional construction methods.

Keon Homes is building the new homes - the first phase of which will be complete by summer 2026.

The old bungalows were declared defective under the 1985 Housing Act due to a number of issues including failing structural elements, leaking and poorly insulated roofs, very poor thermal efficiency and wet rot in the floor.