The Housing Corporation launched the pre-qualification stage of its next affordable housing investment programme with the publication of a Pre-Prospectus.
The 2006/08 bid round - now named the National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) - will provide new investment to tackle the under-supply of affordable housing in England. The Housing Corporation anticipates that this will be their largest ever investment programme, surpassing the £3.3 billion of the previous 04/06 round. The programme aims to:
The 2006/08 NAHP will build on the success of the partnership approach, developed for the 2004/06 bid round, with investment targeted through a limited number of lead providers. For the first time, the bid round will be open to private developers and other organisations, as well as to housing associations.
Housing Associations, private sector developers, and other organisations aspiring to Partnership status will all need to successfully complete the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, in order to go through to the shortlist stage.
At the same time up to 20% of the programme will be reserved for non-Partner housing associations through a specialist programme route. This will help safeguard funding to specialist providers serving the needs of BME communities, vulnerable groups, and those providing rural housing, as well as supporting innovative proposals from non-Partner RSLs.
