Southampton City Council Selected for National Council Housebuilding Programme

Southampton City Council has been selected to join a new government-backed programme aimed at accelerating council-led housebuilding across England. The Council Housebuilding Support Service (CHoSS), announced by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner at last week’s Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference, will provide tailored support to local authorities looking to expand their housing delivery.

Southampton is one of just ten councils chosen for the initiative, which is funded by the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MHCLG). The programme will equip council housing teams with specialist training, online tools, and access to a national peer-to-peer support network to address gaps in knowledge and strengthen the capacity to deliver social and affordable homes.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council, welcomed the news, saying:

“I’m delighted that Southampton City Council has been chosen as one of ten councils to join this crucial programme that will help us to increase the number of council homes built in the city. A safe, affordable, and healthy home is the foundation on which happy and successful lives are built. 

“The Council Housebuilding
Support Service will give us the additional tools to deliver more homes. I’m pleased that we can work with central government and other councils to make our shared ambition a reality.”

Councillor Andy Frampton, Cabinet Member for Housing Operations, added:

“This announcement is great news, as we know there is a need for more decent homes for our residents. Our colleagues in the Housing Service are passionate about delivering more homes for those who need them most, and the Council Housebuilding Support Service will give them access to key resources, training and peer-to-peer support.”

The CHoSS programme is designed not only to provide direct support, but also to facilitate collaboration between councils through a new network led by the Association of Directors of Housing. This network will encourage knowledge-sharing and best practices to speed up delivery and improve outcomes across the sector.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Chair of the LGA, praised the initiative, saying:

“This new programme comes at a critical time for local government. Councils want to do more to deliver the council houses their communities need, and this initiative will give them the tools, advice and support to do just that.

“The CHoSS programme is a positive step forward in unlocking the potential of councils to drive local housing delivery at scale, and we are pleased to be working with government on this shared ambition.”

The other nine councils selected to take part in the programme are: Cornwall Council, Eastbourne Borough Council, Newcastle City Council, Salford City Council, London Borough of Merton, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Rother District Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, and Wirral Council.

The support provided by CHoSS will be expanded to all councils across England in the coming months, with local authorities encouraged to register their interest through the programme’s official webpage.